Dennis A. Clarke, 70, of Waterloo, died Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home.

He was born September 9, 1943 in Cedar Falls, the son of Dale A. and Doris A. Gutknecht Clarke. Dennis graduated from Hudson High School with the Class of 1961 and completed the engineering technician program at Iowa State University. He married Elaine R. Larson on August 5, 1967 at the Community Church in Deep River, Iowa. Dennis served as Staff Sergeant in the Iowa Army National Guard.

Dennis worked as an Engineering Technician and Inspector for the Iowa Department of Transportation and then worked as a Senior Engineering Technician for Black Hawk County for 42 years. He was a member of the Black Hawk Creek Saddle Club, Iowa Quarter Horse Association, Iowa Ranch Horse Association, Palomino Horse Breeders Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and the International Buckskin Horse Association. Dennis judged numerous horse shows throughout the Midwest and received a 10 year recognition from the IBHA.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine of Waterloo; a daughter, Kristin (Louis) Simmons of Independence; three grandchildren, Braden, Chloee and Mckenzie Simmons; a brother, Don Clarke of Maricopa, AZ, two sisters, Diann (Lyle) Wulf of Hudson and Dorothy (Harlan) Selken of Vinton, and his mother-in-law, Doris McCartney of North English.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister-in-law, Diana Clarke.

“Dennis enjoyed spending time with family and friends, his engineering job, and judging horse shows throughout the Midwest.”