Longtime Wyandotte Kiwanis Volunteer Skip Clack Dies at 87

Having dedicated his life to the Kiwanis, it wasn’t surprising to those who knew Skip Clack to find out he was getting ready to head to the group’s national convention when he died in his sleep Monday morning.

The longtime elected official and community volunteer was 87.

Arrangements are being handled by Wyandotte's . Visitation is from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from noon to 9 p.m. Monday. Visitation will continue at 10 a.m. Tuesday at , with the funeral service set for 11 a.m.

Clifford “Skip” Clack was born in 1925 in Mississippi. He came to Michigan a few years later.

Clack worked for for 32 years. He spent 17 years as a physical education teacher and coach and 15 years as the athletic director.

He also served the community, having sat on the city’s police and fire commission and retirement commission. Clack also was elected to the City Council, where he served for 24 years. He also served as mayor for a short time in 1969.

Clack’s passion was with the Kiwanis Club of Wyandotte No. 1000, which honored him last month for having 60 years of perfect attendance at the club’s weekly meetings.

Mayor Joseph Peterson attended the ceremony and gave Clack a proclamation on behalf of the city for his tireless dedication.

“I have nothing but respect for Skip,” Peterson said.

Through his work with the Kiwanis, Clack also served as a longtime Scoutmaster of Kiwanis Troop No. 1758. Under his direction, 156 boys earned the top rank of Eagle Scout.

Councilman James DeSana said Clack is the one person, outside of his family, who has affected his life the most. Whether it was political guidance, a lunch together at or a chat about community service, DeSana said, Clack was always on top of his game.

“The amount of time he spent with Scouting was unbelievable,” DeSana said. “I know of no other person who has dedicated his time to the youth of this community at the school level, the scouting level and then, to be very active in the Kiwanis.”

Clack also served on the advisory council of the for more than 30 years and was a member of the group's Detroit advisory board.

"Clifford "Skip" Clack was a tireless member of both the Wyandotte Advisory Council and the Metro Detroit Advisory Board for nearly four decades," said Capt. Michael Cripe, who runs the Wyandotte branch. "He brought the Kiwanis Clubs of Michigan and The Salvation Army together making the Kiwanis Clubs the largest fundraising community group in Michigan during the annual Red Kettle Campaign. Major Mark Anderson, General Secretary and Detroit Metro Area Commander, said "'Skip' will be sorely missed, he brought the same intensity and passion for helping people to the Advisory Board in May as he did nearly 40 years ago. He was helping make a difference up until he was 'Promoted to Glory.'"

Clack was getting ready to embark on a trip to New Orleans on Monday for the Kiwanis 2012 Convention. When relatives arrived at his house early Monday, they discovered he had died in his sleep.

Many volunteers from the state and national Kiwanis are expected to attend the service. It was delayed a couple days to give them time to make arrangements to get to town.

Klack was preceded in death by his wife, Erma. He is survived by two sons, Kyle and Michael; a daughter, Terry; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother, Howard.

This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday to reflect a change in where the funeral is taking place. Originally planned for , the funeral is now taking place at .