Jeff was a cherished husband, father, son, son-in-law, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. He was a man of strong values and had an unwavering desire to make the world a better place. Jeff’s unwanted journey was difficult at times, but in the end his wish to slip away quietly and peacefully in the arms of his beloved wife Phoebe was granted.
Jeff was a devoted husband and father - words are inadequate to describe his love for his daughters Annie and June. He was a cherished son to Paul Clemens and Cheryl Hayden, and stepson to Christine Clemens and Darryl Williston. Heartbroken family members include his maternal grandparents Bill and Vi Hayden, sisters Liz McMahon (Shannon McMahon), Kathryn and Caroline Williston, and Holly Clemens, father and mother-in-law Everett and Betty Ann Lusk, brother-in-laws Myles Lusk (Kylie Lusk), Adam Lusk (Brianna Lusk) and dear nephews and nieces Grayson and Oliver McMahon, Anson and Soloman Lusk and Easton and Avery Lusk. His extended family spans far and wide, and he was deeply cherished by every branch of this family tree. He is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Gord and Shirley Clemens.
Born on August 24th, 1981, in Brantford, Jeff was a reserved and gentle child who spent countless hours building with Lego and coding on his dad’s computer. His passion for sports ignited early as he played goalie in hockey and joined little league. As the eldest and only boy among his four sisters, he taught them the art of body slamming in playful wrestling matches. A talented writer from a young age, Jeff crafted beautiful poetry and continued to nurture his love for athletics in high school by joining the football team. He was an experienced traveler with a passion for adventure and was always up for new challenges - having taught himself to play several instruments and speaking Spanish fluently. He always dreamed of showing his girls the world.
Jeff’s professional legacy will be remembered not only for his accomplishments but also for the positive influence he had on those around him. His dedication to his career(s) and his unwavering integrity will be greatly missed by his colleagues and all who had the pleasure of working with him. During his time as a teacher in Guatemala and Fort Providence he made significant contributions and left a lasting impact. Most recently, during his time at ApplyBoard, he honed his skills and pursued ambitious goals, earning the respect and admiration of the teams he had the privilege to work with. He deeply valued the relationships he built with his colleagues, many of whom continued to offer support and check in on him throughout his illness.
Jeff dedicated himself wholeheartedly to what mattered most to him. He was deliberate with his words—when he spoke, you could be sure it came from the heart and was intended to offer genuine insight, even if the truth was difficult to hear.
His greatest joy came from taking his beautiful daughters to and from school and "baby school." A minimalist at heart, he didn't have a bucket list of things he wanted to achieve. Instead, he lived a fulfilling life by dedicating his time to what he loved most. Whether it was playing fast pitch with the Smoke and the Falcons, Dog Pound with his buddies, ClemDawgz slo-pitch games, having jam sessions, or winning nearly every board game he played, he found happiness in the simple pleasures of spending quality time with those he cherished.
Jeff’s wish for all of us is to “love each other”. We invite you to come remember this wonderful man and share the love you had for him at a visitation on Friday August 23rd, from 2 - 4 pm and 7 - 9 pm, at Barthel Funeral home in Cambridge. A Celebration of Life will also be held on Saturday August 24th on what would have been Jeff’s 43rd birthday. Please come join us at The Legion in Preston from 6 - 10 pm to share stories, laugh, cry and feel the feelings.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Northern Youth Abroad, Sick Kids or Annie and June’s Adventure Fund. Throughout this entire journey, we have been deeply touched by the outpouring of support from those wanting to contribute to the girls' future. Contributions can be sent directly to the girls at phoebeclemens8@gmail.com.
Shakespeare Falcons:
