Calvin G. Clyde

Calvin Geary Clyde
Sept 5, 1924 – Jan 19, 2011

Calvin Geary Clyde (86) of Logan, Utah passed away on Jan. 19, 2011 in Salt Lake City from complications following surgery. He was an extraordinary husband, father, brother, and friend who enjoyed family reunions, music, extensive traveling, teaching, and service, and who left a great legacy of integrity and love of learning. His greatest accomplishments were the strong and close relationships he built among his posterity. Calvin made an indelible and eternal difference in so many lives; he will be greatly missed.

Son of Edward and Hannah Mendenhall Clyde, Calvin was born on Sept. 5, 1924 in the family farmhouse in Springville, Utah. A descendent of Mormon pioneers and original Springville settlers, he learned early on the value of hard work and dedication to family.

Calvin was drafted and served honorably in the army in WW II from 1943-1946. He survived the sinking of the SS Leopoldville and numerous conflicts with the 66th Infantry Division in France, and was then sent to Vienna, Austria. There he met his eternal sweetheart and love of his life, Brigitta Straumer, when they both attended an LDS branch in Vienna.

Following his military service, he returned home and was quickly called to serve an LDS mission to the East German Mission (1946-1948). He served first in Switzerland and then in Berlin during the Berlin Airlift. He and Brigitta have treasured their friends the MACFACs – mission companions and their wives who have remained lifelong friends since their experiences together.

Following the mission and before returning to the U.S., he got permission to go to Vienna, marry Brigitta on Nov. 24, 1948 and bring her home. They were then married by Ezra Taft Benson in the Salt Lake Temple on Dec. 15, 1948. For 62 years, they have celebrated both wedding anniversaries.

A strong and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as bishop and in many other capacities. He and Brigitta also served a church service mission from 1991 to 1992 for the Church’s Natural Resources Section, along with other special assignments in later years.

Calvin got his BS at the University of Utah in Engineering and his MS and PhD at UC Berkeley in Civil Engineering-Hydrology. He was a faculty member at the University of Utah and then at Utah State for 28 years. In addition to teaching, he was the associate director and then acting director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory in Logan. He was the consummate engineer – an exact, precise, organized perfectionist – who insisted that everything be fixed correctly and immediately (including his heart).

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Brigitta; 8 children: Rixa (Lonnie) Oman of Mapleton, UT; Eric (Pauline) of Folsom, CA; DeAnn (Brent) Spencer of Rochester, MN; Carla (Phil) Lewis of Bakersfield, CA; Andrea (Randy) Funk serving as mission president in Bangalore, India; Loretta (Doug) Buckley of Stafford, VA; Mark (Susie) of Palmer, AK; and Tania (Mark) Stewart of Petersboro, UT. He is beloved by his 38 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren (with 5 on the way). He is also survived by his sister Pauline Pace of SLC, and his brothers Hal (Aileen) and Norman (Phyllis) of Springville, UT. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Roger and Grant, and his grandchildren Dain and Jenny Oman.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 in the Logan Hillcrest 2nd Ward chapel, 875 N. 1500 E., Logan, Utah. Friends and family may call from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. prior to the funeral. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .