Clair Louis Legere
https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=28021921
September 10, 1923 - May 29, 2023
Clair Louis Legere, 3 months from 100 years, died peacefully in his sleep on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023, at Graham County Hospital. Clair arrived the second of ten children on September 10, 1923, in Macomb, Illinois, to Louis and Leta (Beghtol) Legere. With the encouragement of Great-Uncle John Legere, the family moved to Kansas when Clair was 13. The family settled on a farm south of Hill City.
He attended elementary school at Millbrook School. After a long walk home from school, the Legere kids were treated to homemade bread, butter, and jam. Clair then attended Hill City High School and graduated in 1942.
Clair enlisted in the army in January 1943 and was slotted for duty as a tank crew member. One day upon leaving the mess hall, Clair noticed a bulletin board post requesting volunteers for a tank recovery unit. Clair joined the 458th Ordnance Evacuation Unit. He served as a driver/mechanic on an M25 Tank Transporter, commonly nicknamed the Dragon Wagon. His unit went into European theater battle fields where he assessed and recovered combat damaged tanks, armed personnel carriers, and the machines of war. He felt fortunate to serve with the men of the 458th. Among the honors he received but seldom discussed were a battlefield promotion to sergeant, Bronze (BSS) and Silver (SS) Stars, and the French Legion of Honor. He received an honorable discharge in November 1945. He especially appreciated receiving a Quilt of Valor and being selected for an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. He loved his country all his life.
After WWII, Clair returned to Hill City and worked as a mechanic. On Thanksgiving Day in 1946 he went on a date with Eleanor Nickelson. They married on Thanksgiving Day 1947. Clair and Eleanor settled in Penokee and lived there for the rest of their lives, celebrating 65 years together. They purchased the Penokee grocery store in 1948, and it became a local landmark. Daughter Madella arrived in 1953 and a second daughter, Donella, followed in 1957. Running the store became a family endeavor. Clair and Eleanor also started a photography business. Many area people had their wedding and family photos taken by Legere’s Photography. In 1970, they closed the store and began Legere’s Refrigeration. When the Legere Refrigeration white van arrived with the big white dog, you knew about anything could and would be fixed.
His quiet faith manifested through service. He served as a Deacon in the Penokee Methodist Church. After the closing of the Penokee church, he became an active member of the Hill City Presbyterian Church. Clair served in leadership roles while always making himself available for maintenance, repair, and building upkeep.
His service continued with various school boards for 55 years. These included school boards in Penokee, Morland and at the Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland. Memberships with the Masons, Eastern Star, Shriners, American Legion, and the VFW counted for another 50 years. Clair helped establish the fire station in Penokee and served as a firefighter from 1968 until his last fire run on October 24, 2013. At the age of 90, he still considered fire-fighting a privilege. Clair promoted Penokee and served 55 years on the Millbrook Township board.
Clair and Eleanor welcomed family and friends into their home through the years, leading to many cherished memories. Eleanor preceded Clair in death as did his parents, Louis and Leta Legere. Also preceding were brothers George, Major, Don, Bob, Jon Larry, and Scotty, as well as sisters, Jane Jansen, and Mary Ann Littlejohn.
Survivors left to cherish Clair’s memory include his sister, Joyce Gibson, Atlanta, GA, and sister-in-law Libby Legere, Hays. Clair’s daughters are Madella (Doug Williams) Garden City, and Donella Belleau, Hill City, (Don Dinkel, Hays). Clair had five grandchildren, Jeremy (Kellie) Belleau, Norton, KS; Michele (Greg) Albrecht, Lawrence, KS; Tara (Shane) Harper, Ingalls, KS; Sabra (John) Leomo, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Christi (Cody) Keiswetter, Lenora, KS. Continuing the legacy are 10 great-grandchildren, Emma and Grace Belleau; Katherine, Isaac, Granten and Solomon Harper; Kainoa and Zealand Leomo; Kaylen and Jaxen Keiswetter; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
Clair loved, took pride in, and supported his family and friends. Also included in his circle were pets, birds, and plants. Clair’s friends often speak of him as, “One of the good ones.” He lived a full and wonderful life.
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