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Clarence A. “Clay” Deschane

Clarence Deschane

BIG BAY, MI – Clarence Albert “Clay” Deschane, age 90, of Big Bay, passed away Saturday, November 28, 2020.

Clay was born September 17, 1930, in Brainerd, Minnesota, a son of Clarence and Doris B. (Cain) Deschane, and was raised in Brainerd. He entered the US Army at age 17, serving for over 22 years, during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam Era, as a lab and dental technician. He was honorably discharged in 1969 while serving at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. He moved to New York where he was employed as a lab technician, later moving to Michigan where he was employed with Dental Prosthetics in Kalamazoo and then Dental Arts in Lansing. He moved to Marquette following retirement in 1995. Clay’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, and helping his children while they were building their homes and with maintenance.

Survivors include his daughters, Noelle Johnson of Chatham and Emily Britton of Marquette; a son, Allan C. Deschane of Big Bay; his grandchildren, Hunter Prisk, Caleb Johnson, Lilly Deschane, Cora Deschane, Sarah Sanborn, Hannah Britton, Cassie Britton, and Travis Britton; a great-grandson, Abel; his brothers, Lorenzo Whitmarsh of Olympia, WA and Richard (“Bebo”) Deschane of Brainerd, MN; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Clay was preceded in death by his sister, Loretta Peterson.

Spring interment will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 N. Main Street, Chamberlain, SD 57325.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswanson hansen.com