CLAIR DAHLGREN
Article Photos
Clair F. Dahlgren, 87, a lifetime resident of Sheffield until 2004, passed away at Warren General Hospital on Thursday, September, 2008, of complications.
Clair was born July 12, 1921, the son of Fredrick and Elisabeth Hooven Lindberg. He was the youngest of seven children (all deceased): Euvenza (Lindberg) Fosberg, Lucille (Lindberg) Massa, Louise (Lindberg) Bender, Doris (Lindberg) Johnson, Russell Lindberg, Gerald Lindberg, and Clair. The mother died a short time after his birth. He was then adopted by John and Emma Dahlgren, who had helped to care for Elisabeth during her illness, and they raised him as their own. The care of the older children was attended to by the old Ruth Smith Children's Home in Sheffield.
Clair married Waive Henry, daughter of C. Elmer Henry and Kathryn Walker Henry, at the First Baptist Church, Frewsburg, NY.
He was preceded in death by his adopted sister, Edith Dahlgren, his wife, a baby daughter, and his son, Jeffrey.
He is survived by his son, Rev. Dan Dahlgren (wife Marie); three grandchildren, Amy Campbell (husband Jimmy), Andrew, and Stephanie; and three greatgrandchildren, Sommer, Jay, and William Campbell. Clair's friend and caregiver for the last four years was Suzette Berdine, of Warren. He also leaves behind his faithful friend and companion, Goldie, his golden lab.
Clair was a graduate of Sheffield High School, playing football and participating in orchestra and choir. He played football for awhile for the old semipro Warren Red Jackets. Clair worked 41 years for the Pennsylvania Railroad/Conrail as a car and locomotive inspector, and sold insurance parttime. He tuned pianos for 20 years in homes, churches and schools. Clair had also been an avid outdoorsman, loving especially deer hunting with his boys, and fishing, and cutting firewood.
Singing and music was a great part of Clair's life. Some of the choirs he sang in and did bass solo work were at Trinity Memorial Episcopal (Warren),First Presbyterian (Warren), First Methodist and Grace Methodist (Warren), and Sheffield United Methodist. His favorite piece of music was Handel's "Messiah" wherein he sang a bass solo part during several of the productions of it put on over the years by the Warren Community Choir. He also did some solo work at weddings, funerals and other occasions. He never missed church until he was disabled, and then continued to attend and sing in choirs whenever he could.
Calling hours will be on Sunday from 24 and 79 p.m. at the Borden Lloyd Funeral Home, Sheffield. Service will be Monday at 11 a.m. in Warren, at Grace United Methodist Church, at Penna Ave. E. and Prospect, with pastors Mark Lindberg, Grace Community Church, Sheffield, and Terry Hurlbutt, Sheffield United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Sheffield Cemetery.
