R. Paul Clodfelder

It is with great sadness we announce that R. Paul Clodfelder, MD, passed away on July 16, after a recent cancer diagnosis, surrounded by loving family. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. 

Paul was born to Raymond and Edith Clodfelder on March 21, 1936, in Lebanon, Illinois. He attended Washington University in St. Louis for his undergrad degree and then earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

Paul had a very accomplished career as a physician. He was heavily involved in the Kent County Medical Society and Michigan State Medical Society and advocated on medical legislative issues. He served as the first medical director of Grand Valley State University's Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program. Its student society RPC is named for him, using his initials.

At Butterworth Hospital, Paul was Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine. He was also an internist at Cherry Health where, upon his retirement, he volunteered as a governing board member which involved working on legislative issues and client services. He helped launch the Cherry Health Foundation. 

A longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Paul served as a deacon and elder. He loved music and sang with the choir for more than 30 years,  forming lifelong friendships. Camp Henry had a special place in this heart. 

Paul had a keen sense of humor and loved to laugh.  His  family believes he was the originator of the dad joke. He was known for having the kindest heart and advocated for and treated everyone equally. He never enjoyed violence or stressful movies and was a devoted patron of the Hallmark Channel. Paul felt most at home up north at the family cottage on Lake Leelanau where he taught his children and grandchildren how to fish and treated them to wild tubing rides. Known by his family as Papa,  he loved sitting on the lake deck enjoying a Manhattan, or as he called it, a Manny.

Paul loved traveling and good food.  He and Nancy traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. Every summer the family caravanned across the country with his brother’s family and Nancy’s cousin. As they set up their trailers at different destinations, the family quickly became known to surrounding campers as the “Loudfelders.”

Playing on that family name, if something was lost, Papa worked tirelessly to find it, earning him another moniker, “Findfelder.” 

He loved the annual white elephant exchange at Christmastime, the sillier the gag gift, the better. All the grandchildren coveted his contributions and were known to regift his back to him at subsequent holidays.

Embodying his motto “Work hard, play hard,” he taught his family the art of competition through endless games of Parcheesi and always gave the kids a run for their money.

His love for games is evident in closets and shelves of board games, jigsaw puzzles and cards. To stay current with the times, he transitioned from bridge to euchre to better participate with his kids and grandkids. He was a savvy Wordle player, sharing his impressive score daily.

During his years at Vandy, Paul met his wife, Nancy (Clarke), while getting an  X-ray. Paul and Nancy were married August 27, 1959. They moved to Grand Rapids to complete his residency and made Grand Rapids and Westminster their home to their five children. 

Paul is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, and their children Clarke (Christina), Carole Hammerslag (Tom), Rick (Cristi), Beth Vander Meulen (Brian) and Becky Moorehead (Scott).

His many devoted grandchildren include: David, Christian (Meredith), Emma, Becca, Claire, Jonathan, Lydia, Julia, William, Tony, Logan, Bryson, and Peter.

He is also survived by his brother, Leon (Ann).

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19 at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held Saturday, July 20 at 11:00 a.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Memorials may be made to Cherry Health Foundation or Camp Henry. 

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