Obituary of Staff Sgt. Shawn Clemens

Shawn Michael Clemens "Husband, Loving Father, Beloved Son, Courageous Soldier" Allegany, NY-- Shawn Clemens of 3423 Fortune Drive died Thursday (January 29, 2004) as a result of injuries sustained from an explosion of a weapons cache in the village of Dehe Hendu, in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan. Born April 1, 1975 in Corning, NY he was the beloved son of William and Candace Tracy Clemens. In 1979 he moved to Olean and then to Allegany. He attended the YMCA Nursery School. He also attended Boardmanville Elementary until the 5th grade, and attended 6th grade at Allegany Elementary. Shawn graduated from Allegany High School in 1993. There he participated in football, wrestling and baseball. He then attended Alfred State College for 1 ½ years after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving his country for eight years. He graduated from basic training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia and also attended training in Panama. Later, he was stationed at Hunter Army Air Force Base in Savannah, Georgia. He transferred to Fort Drum in Watertown, NY. While in the 10th Mountain Division, he had several deployments. First, he deployed to Kosovo in 2002 for 6 months. There he completed EMT training and upon his return he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He then attended NCO School and continued to Sniper School. Upon graduation he returned to Fort Drum. In August of 2003 Shawn volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan. He became a squad leader for a sniper reconnaissance unit from HHC CO, 2-87 INF. He was proud and honored to serve his country. Shawn was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed the outdoors and being with friends and family. Surviving besides his parents of Allegany are his wife April (Robbins) whom he married on December 11, 1999; a son Gavin; a stepdaughter Alexis Clark; two sisters Michelle Clemens of Allegany and Kristen (Kyle) Keenan of Olean; his grandmother Anna Mae Tracy of Johnstown, PA; his grandparents Clarence and Dortha Clemens of Hammondsport, NY; a niece Carly Keenan of Olean; a soon-to-be nephew baby Keenan of Olean and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his grandfather Anthony Nicholas Tracy and his great grandparents Myrtle and Ralph Hamer, Sr., Edyth and Spencer Slingerland and Leona and Homer Clemens. Visitation will be held at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Sunday evening from 7-9pm and on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday (February 10. 2004 at 1:00pm at the Bethany Lutheran Church 1706 Lincoln Ave. (Leo Moss Dr.), Olean, NY. Pastor Paula Roulette, Pastor Richard Klafahn and Pastor Dan Hoffman will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow in Allegany Cemetery, Fifth and Maple Streets Allegany, NY. In addition to flowers, contributions may be made to the Shawn Michael Clemens Scholarship Fund, C/O Bethel Lutheran Church 79 Brooklyn St. Portville, NY 14779 or to the Gavin M. Clemens Scholarship Fund C/O Key Bank 450 N. Union St. Olean, NY 14760.