Clyde R. Pohlman

Clyde was born in Ishpeming on September 12, 1923 to the late Charles and Goldie Pohlman, he was the youngest of his 10 siblings. He attended the Ishpeming schools and was a graduate of the class of 1941. Following graduation Clyde moved to the Blaney Park area where he was an assistant golf pro before enlisting in the United States Navy in 1943. He served in the Navy from March of 1943 until April of 1945 where he was active on both the European and Pacific Fronts as a radioman on a P/T boat during the Normandy Invasion and then in the Philippines. He earned several medals for his service including the Oak Leaf Emblem, the American Theatre Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Star, and Philippine Independence Medal.

Following Clyde’s military service in 1947, he attended Northern Michigan University where he received a B.S. in Industrial Arts in 1952. On September 6, 1951 Clyde married his childhood sweetheart Nancy Bennett. They had a joint ceremony with their grandparents Thomas and Grace for their 50th Anniversary. Nancy passed in July of 1978, Clyde never remarried always saying Nancy was the one true love of his life.

From September of 1952 until June of 1953 he was a teacher at National Mine school. In 1953 Clyde moved to Denver where he worked for Armor Meat Packing until 1956. From 1956 until 1963 he was a teacher, coach, and principal at Joes Public Schools while he also worked on his master degree in school administration at Colorado University at Boulder. From June of 1963 until June of 1970 Clyde worked as the superintendent at the Deer Trail schools. While in Deer Trails he was a volunteer fireman, ambulance attendant, rural regional director of the red cross, president of the Lions Club, and charter life member of the Deer Trails Elks which he helped in founding.

Clyde was a certified referee for track and football at the high school level and also caddied at the Cherry Creek professional golf tournament. He continued his education beyond his Master Degree, completing 30 hours toward an Administrative Specialist at Denver University in 1967 and at Michigan State University from 1970-1973. Clyde was the superintendent of Republic Schools from 1970-1973. He then was employed by CCI in the warehouse from 1974-1977 before finishing off his career substitute teaching and as a bus driver where he was fondly remembered by many. Clyde retired in 1995.

Clyde traveled in retirement, wintering with his son Gregg, where he drove to Colorado, Texas, and later Arizona by himself until the age of 89. He loved the outdoors and hunting at Camp Wolf and Silver Lake. He was a member of the Wawonowin Country Club. He had a hole-in-one on March 25, 2003 while golfing in Benson Arizona. He was a member of VASA, the New York Club, Life Member of NEA and the P/T Boaters Radiomen of World War II where he attended an annual reunion for many years. Clyde received a plaque for being a 20 year donor to the Salvation Army, and was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church since 1970.

Clyde is survived by his 2 children- Brett Pohlman, Wendy Pohlman both of Ishpeming, 1 grandson- Eric Pohlman, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Nancy in 1978, son Gregg Pohlman in 2001, and 9 siblings- Myrtle, Carl, Emily, William, Ruth, Spencer, Roy, Grace, and Glenn.

Clyde’s family will greet relatives and friends at the Wesley United Methodist Church from 2:00pm-4:00pm on Saturday January 13, 2018. Funeral services will start at 4:00pm with Rev. J.J. Mannschreck officiating.

Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery on Thursday January 18, 2018 at 1:00pm where military honors will be accorded by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #380.

Honorary pallbearers are Clyde’s late brothers- Carl, William, Spencer, Roy, and Glenn Pohlman.

Clyde’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans Nursing Staff for their excellent care and the friendships Clyde made.

Memorials may be made in Clyde’s honor to the Colorado Horse Rescue, UPAWS, or Ishpeming, Westwood, or Republic Schools for the intention of promoting teacher fellowship and camaraderie.

Clyde’s obituary may also be viewed at bjork andzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.