Clement "Clem" J. Stumpf

Clement "Clem" Stumpf, age 98 of Glenwood, died Friday, February 15, 2019 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood with Father Joe Vandeberg officiating. Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Glenwood and will continue at the funeral home on Tuesday morning one hour prior to the service. The Knights of Columbus will pray the rosary at the beginning of the visitation on Tuesday morning. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Glenwood. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. 

Clement “Clem” Stumpf, the son of Lawrence and Rose (Koch) Stumpf, was born July 18, 1920, in Mandan, ND. He grew up in Mandan with his parents, three brothers, and two sisters. Clem attended school in Mandan and was a 1938 graduate of Mandan High School. After graduation, Clem purchased his first business, a small grocery store in Mandan. In the summer of 1942, during the height of World War II, Clem received notice he’d been drafted into the United States Army Air Corp. He reported to Fort Snelling in Minnesota on August 12, 1942, where he received training in military intelligence. His first deployment was to North Africa, where he spent 1 ½ years before being sent to Italy for the remaining two years of his service. While in Italy, he had the opportunity to receive vocal training, which encouraged and strengthened his love of singing. During these deployments, Clem was honored to serve under famed military general, Jimmy Doolittle. Following his honorable discharge on November 2, 1945, Clem returned to the Mandan area, where he got back into the grocery business. Through hard work and perseverance, he came to own several grocery stores in Mandan and in neighboring Bismarck.

On November 2, 1949, in Mandan, Clem was united in marriage to Doris McCann, whom he met at one of his grocery stores. The two first made their home in Bismarck, where they were blessed with their first son, Larry. In 1960, Clem sold his North Dakota grocery stores and moved the family to Glenwood, MN, where he purchased the local grocery store from Harry Anderson. It was in Glenwood where Clem and Doris were blessed with their second son, David. Clem continued in the grocery business for the next 25+ years, owning and managing what would ultimately become known as Clem’s Fairway. Doris passed away in 1984 at the age of 62.  In 1986, Clem sold the store to Steve Hinck, who owned it for two years before selling to the Buysse family in 1988. The grocery business was in Clem’s blood and he remained employed at the store in the produce department until his eventual retirement at the age of 94.

On June 1, 1991, Clem was united in marriage to Mary A. Kollar of Hancock. Clem and Mary made their home in Glenwood, where they were members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Over the years, Clem was active in several local organizations including Showstopppers, the Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the VFW. He also sang with Sacred Heart’s church choir for over 45 years. Clem enjoyed traveling, grilling for the family and large groups, woodworking, growing roses, and spending time at the lake.

Clem is remembered fondly by those who worked for him over the years, who recall his gruff exterior being a thin coating over the generous, warm center. He never asked others to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. His family will remember him as a wonderful husband, father, successful business owner, as well as for his beautiful singing voice.

Clem is survived by Mary, his wife of 27 years; his two sons, Larry and Mary of Alexandria, and David and Patty of Little Falls; 3 grandchildren, Ashley (Jake) Schmidt, Sarah (Dustin) Fritz, and Michael Stumpf; 3 great-grandchildren, Emma and Norah Schmidt and Skylar Fritz. He is also survived by Mary’s six children; 13 step grandchildren; and 3 step great grandchildren; as well as his sister Lorraine (Richard) Froelich; nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Doris; his brothers and their spouses, Donald “Beaver” and JoAnn, Leo “Peanuts” and Marlys, and Leonard; and his sister and her husband, Polly and Bill Barth.

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