Borjesson, Clarence Harry

Clarence Harry Borjesson, 78, of Fairbanks, died Monday, 
March 22, 2010, at Denali Center.

He was born Sept. 18, 1931, to Ina Mae and Eric Stanley 
Borjesson of Camas, Wash.   Clarence grew up on a farm and 
graduated from Camas High School in 1948.

After a year at Washington State College, Clarence (also 
known as Clancy) joined the Marine Corps in 1949 and 
served in the Korean War. While stationed in Kyoto, Japan, he 
became the first American to captain the Kyoto Japan Judo 
team and later rose to a fifth degree black belt. Upon his 
discharge from the Marine Corps in 1954, he attended the 
Colorado School of Gunsmithing and Clark College in 
Vancouver, Wash. He then moved to Fairbanks in 1959 where 
he spent the rest of his life.

Clarence married Charlotte Marie Barker in 1960 in Fairbanks. 

They moved to Clear while he worked for Clear Air Force 
Station. Moving back to Fairbanks in 1968, Clarence worked 
for Airport Fire & Safety, the Army National Guard and later 
for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. Clancy was known for his 
kindness and willingness to help anyone. He was a friend to 
many, in his quiet way, taking life in strides with an 
uncommon patience and persistence.

As a marksman, he and his brother Gordon at one time won 
nearly all the rifle shooting championships on the West 
Coast, finishing first and second at most of the matches they 
entered. He also was a gunsmith and firearms instructor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stan and Ina; his 
wife, Charlotte Marie; his brother, Gordon Stanley Borjesson; 
daughter, Michelle April Borjesson; and his son, Michael Eric 
Bradley Borjesson.

He is survived by his son, Bruce Randall Borjesson; his 
daughters, Debra Maureen Starcevich, of Bellingham, Wash., 
and Heidi Dawn Borjesson, of Washougal, Wash.; his brother 
and his wife, Bryan Franklin Borjesson and Margaret 
McCombs-Borjesson; along with several nieces, nephews, 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at a later 
date, with his cremains to be scattered in Wind River Canyon, 
in Stevenson, Wash. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a 
donation to your preferred charity.

A special thanks to the doctors, nurses and support staff at 
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Denali Center who took 
such excellent care of our father, brother and friend.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m., Monday, April 5, at 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1500 Cowles 
St.

Arrangements were by Fairbanks Funeral Home. 

Published in Daily News-Miner on April 1, 2010