Shorty Clark

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 14th, 2023, at the Crawford Community Building in Crawford, NE. Reception to follow at The Tailgate Bar to celebrate Shorty’s life. Please wear your Husker attire for one last GO BIG RED!

Kristopher “Shorty” Henry Clark, 56, died January 7th, 2023, in Greely, CO.

Shorty was born December 29, 1966, in Chadron, NE to George and Jacque Lyn Lindeken Clark. He lived the first two years of his life in Whitney, NE before his family moved to Marsland, NE. They relocated one more time to Crawford, NE when Shorty was in 3rd grade.

Throughout Shorty’s youth he fell in love with sports. From the baseball diamond to the wrestling mats and out to the fifty-yard line you could find him with a smile on his face. Some of his favorite memories were made on the blacktop during impromptu basketball games or playing football with the neighbors.

Shorty always said there are 3 kinds of cowboys in the world – the genuine, the wannabes and the have to’s. Shorty fell into the have-to category due to having to have a job. He started working at Fort Robinson State Park as a wrangler while in high school where you could hear him yelling “Grab your horn” or as Bertha, “I wanna ride the hide!”

While juggling work and school, Shorty still managed to participate in both football and wrestling at high levels. He held center and nose guard positions on the football team and was a state qualifier in wrestling. Kris graduated in May of 1985 from Crawford High School. He then attended Hastings College, followed by the start of his on-air personality in 1987 at KZMC 105.3 in McCook, NE. After that Shorty bounced around until he found himself returning to Crawford to work as a bartender in 1993.

Being a bartender, you never knew how many people he would meet and run into. From California at a ball game to being in Lincoln enjoying the Huskers there was bound to be someone he knew. It was also behind the bar that he met his future wife Echo and the two married on November 29, 1999.

From the bar scene Shorty moved to a more fulfilling job working at the Office of Human Development where he helped adults with disabilities every day. He always had the clients laughing and rocking the van which made them all love him. He often bragged on how amazing his job was with the biggest smile on his face, because he got to help other people and made a difference in their lives.

Upon his passing he was able to make a difference in over 25 people’s lives by being a donor. Shorty would have been beaming from ear to ear knowing the impact he made.

Shorty is survived by his wife Echo; his sons, Grant (Elizabeth) Wasserburger and Caleb (Lindsey) Studnicka, his daughter Katrina (Shane Vifquain) Studnicka; his four grandchildren Brayden, Lucus, Teagyn and Rowan; his brothers Kacey (Diane) Clark, Kirby (Michelle) Clark, and Karl (Janella) Clark; his sisters Kim Clark and Kathy (Kent) Kennedy and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father George, mother Jacque and brother Kory.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Crawford Volunteer Fire Department and Crawford Senior Pro Rodeo. Donations can be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.