Clarence Herbert Koerber Jr

Clarence Herbert Koerber Jr. (Clare), 91, of Greenville, SC, died Friday, February 5, 2021. Born August 27, 1929, in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, he was the son of the late Clarence Frederick Koerber and Isabelle Louise Lepper. He was a member of the Naval Reserve while attending Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. He then attended the University of Wisconsin, where he studied chemical engineering. His education was delayed while he served with the U.S. 532 Military Intelligence Battalion of the 7th Army in Germany during the Korean conflict. He was stationed originally in Stuttgart where his unit was assigned to the U.S. Air Force to interpret intelligence from their flights to Berlin during the Russian Blockade. His unit later moved to Wiesbaden and then to Kaiserslautern. He returned home after serving to resume his education at UW Madison, where he met his future wife Marilyn. He earned a BS Degree in Philosophy from UW Milwaukee. Following graduation, he entered the heavy metals industry working for iron and steel foundries in Wisconsin and later in Indiana. He left the foundry industry to take a position as head of Purchasing for the Crane Company in Chicago. He was later selected as one of the original group of American managers hired by the Michelin Tire Corporation in 1972 to start up Michelin Tire operations in South Carolina. He enjoyed an 18-year career with Michelin as Director of Purchasing, retiring in the early 1990s. Clarence was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1974. After retirement, he served on Church Council and numerous committees and even drove the church bus. He and his wife Marilyn volunteered many years at the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, where he also provided maintenance service. Clarence and Marilyn received the 1996 Volunteer of the Year award. He will be remembered for the great love he had for his family, his smile, his wit, and his ability to fix anything. He is survived by Marilyn, his wife of 64 years, 4 children: Heidi Ann Goodwin (Jimmy) of Simpsonville, SC; Lori Ann Hickman (Brian) of Travelers Rest, SC; Jon Christian Koerber (Michelle) of San Ramon, CA; Amy Lynn Forde (Donough) of Simpsonville, SC; 7 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many friends. He is preceded in death by his sister, Janet Pearl Koerber, and two grandchildren, Ryan Thomas Hortis and Amber Marie Hickman. Due to the current pandemic, a private service will be held on February 20, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenville, SC, or to the Greenville Free Medical Clinic. The family has created a Life Tributes page online at the Cremation Society of SC-Westville Funerals (cremationsocietyofsc.com).