Lance M Clouse

Lance Marshall Clouse, 48, of Port Huron, died Sunday, October 4, 2020 after a three-month, hard fought battle with colon cancer.

He was born February 26, 1972 in Port Huron to Charles and Yvonne Clouse.

Lance was a loved, admired and respected father, son, brother, nephew and loyal best friend. He was a valued long-time employee of Semco Energy Gas Company, well liked and known for his work ethic, dedication, knowledge and desire to learn new skills.

He is survived by his son, Andrew Clouse; his mom-in-law, Nora Condland; sisters, April and Nicole; brother, Charlie; aunts, Sue and Marie; and other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Ed.

Private family services have taken place.

From all who loved him in life, please honor his memory by helping to raise awareness on how deadly, but preventable, colon cancer can be.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Arrangements are by Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com

Lance

Life, Death and In-between

Lance was 48 at his death. He had a tough childhood, but overcame many obstacles and became an amazing employee, father, friend, mechanic, carpenter, tiler and all-around skilled person, who left this world way too soon. He enjoyed learning new skills and was passionate about passing on his skills to others. As his mother-in-law, I learned more about car engines, body painting, installing my own siding and power tool usage and safety. He wasn’t at all sexist during our many projects over the last twenty-five years. I had to pull my own weight. Christmas and birthdays brought me a complete set of my very own power tools.

We completed many home and art tasks, at both of our homes and as well as a large twenty-foot-long Corian and metal “fish wall” in the cafeteria at Lake Huron Medical Center. He didn’t limit himself to helping family, and shared his skills with many, fixing cars, homes, cottages and anything else that would come his way. He was a friend to many, a best friend to a few. He expected honesty, kindness and ethical behavior from everyone. He had little respect for people who tried to demand and argue, rather than calmly suggest, and explain their ideas.

His colon cancer was discovered on July 6th when I took him to the Emergency Department, with severe stomach pain. He had abdominal surgery a few hours later. A large mass, part of his colon and lymph nodes were removed. This was the start of a three-month fight for survival. He was in pain, nauseated but continually fighting, to be healthy enough to start chemotherapy. His primary concern was making sure his son was taken care of.

There were six of us, friends and family with him during his body's final fight to survive. We all took turns holding his hand, telling him how much he was cherished, loved and admired.

I wish I could say his death was peaceful. It was not. His final hours were spent struggling to take every breath. He had lost at least 50 pounds and looked like a starving prison camp survivor. He went through four hospitalizations and hospice in his last three months of life.

Friends, family and others who knew and loved him want his death to mean something more than an obituary in a local newspaper. I hope every person who reads this will take the time to tell their friends, acquaintances, family members and other loved ones this story, with the hope that Lance’s death, can save a life.

A quote from Mayo Clinic:

You may think you don't have to worry about colorectal cancer until you're 50. That's the age doctors recommend most patients get a colorectal cancer screening. But colorectal cancer in those under age 35 is on the rise. By 2030, colon cancer cases are expected to increase by 90%.