1. The small, tight-knit community of Onalaska, Wisconsin, is grappling with an unbearable loss this week following the tragic death of Kim Clark, a devoted third-grade teacher at Irving Pertzsch Elementary School. Clark, 41, passed away on Saturday afternoon as the result of a devastating head-on collision on State Highway 93, a roadway she had traveled countless times without incident. Her sudden and violent death has left a deep and lasting ache in the hearts of her family, colleagues, students, and the entire community she served with such care and dedication.

The crash, which remains under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol, occurred near the intersection of Highway 93 and County Road OT, a stretch known for its rolling hills and occasional blind curves. According to initial reports, Clark was driving northbound when a southbound vehicle crossed the center line for reasons not yet determined. The two vehicles collided nearly head-on. Clark was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, whose name has not been released pending family notification, was airlifted to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse with critical injuries. No students were in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

For those who knew Kim Clark, the news arrived not as a statistic but as a shattering of the ordinary. She was, by every account, a woman who had chosen one of the most important professions—not for recognition or reward, but because she genuinely believed in the power of a single caring adult to change a child’s life.

Who Was Kim Clark? More Than a Teacher

To be a teacher is to shape the future, one child at a time—and Kim Clark embraced that calling wholeheartedly. In her classroom at Irving Pertzsch Elementary, she was more than an educator; she was a guide, a mentor, and a steady source of encouragement. She understood that teaching went far beyond textbooks and lesson plans. It was about nurturing confidence, sparking curiosity, and creating a space where every child felt safe, valued, and capable.

Born Kimberly Anne Clark in La Crosse, Wisconsin, she was the eldest of three children to parents Robert and Linda Clark (née Harrison). She attended Onalaska High School, where she was known for her quiet determination and her habit of helping struggling classmates with their math homework. After graduation, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, followed by a master’s in Reading Literacy from Viterbo University.

She joined Irving Pertzsch Elementary fifteen years ago, fresh out of graduate school. Principal Dr. Marcia K. Ellsworth recalled Clark’s interview vividly. “She walked in with a portfolio full of lesson ideas, but what I remember most was when I asked her why she wanted to teach third grade. She said, ‘Because eight-year-olds still believe in magic, but they’re just starting to doubt themselves. I want to be the one who catches them before they fall.’ I hired her on the spot.”

The Heart of Her Classroom

Third grade is a pivotal time in a child’s life—a year of growth, discovery, and transition. Students move from learning to read to reading to learn. Multiplication tables are introduced. Fractions appear. For many children, it is the first year where academic confidence can either soar or crumble. Kim Clark met her students at that important stage with patience and compassion. She celebrated their progress, supported them through challenges, and believed in their potential even when they doubted themselves.

Former student Emily R. Patterson, now a sophomore in high school, wrote a tearful tribute on social media: “Mrs. Clark was the first teacher who told me I was smart. I didn’t believe her at first because I struggled with reading. But she stayed with me every single day after school for weeks until I finished my first chapter book. She gave me a bookmark that said ‘Readers are leaders.’ I still have it.”

Another former student, Marcus D. Flores, now studying engineering at UW–Madison, recalled: “I was the kid who wouldn’t sit still. Other teachers got frustrated. Mrs. Clark gave me a stress ball and made me the ‘classroom helper’ so I could move around. She never made me feel like I was a problem. She made me feel like I had a purpose.”

Her classroom was a sanctuary. The walls were covered with student artwork, motivational posters, and a “Wall of Wonderful Words” where children could write kind notes about one another. She had a small library corner with a worn-out rocking chair where she read aloud to her students every afternoon—rain or shine, fire drill or field trip. “That was sacred time,” said teaching assistant Jennifer L. Kowalski. “The kids would come in from lunch, and Kim would already be in that chair with a book. She said reading aloud was ‘the heartbeat of the day.’”

Colleagues and Community: A Life That Touched Many

Her colleagues knew her as someone deeply committed to her work and to the children she served. She brought warmth into the school each day, building connections not only in her classroom but throughout the halls. She was the kind of educator who showed up fully, who gave her time generously, and who quietly carried the responsibility of shaping young lives with grace.

David M. Chen, a fourth-grade teacher at Irving Pertzsch Elementary and Clark’s neighboring classroom teacher for seven years, described her as “the engine of our grade level.” He added: “Whenever a new teacher joined our team, Kim would secretly leave a basket of supplies on their desk with a note that said, ‘Welcome to the best job in the world. You’ve got this.’ She did that for me when I was struggling with classroom management. She didn’t lecture me. She just modeled it. I learned more from watching her than from any professional development seminar.”

Sarah J. Thompson, the school’s guidance counselor, noted Clark’s intuitive ability to notice when a student was struggling outside of academics. “Last year, Kim had a little boy whose mother was hospitalized for several weeks. The boy never said a word about it. But Kim noticed he stopped eating his snack. She quietly arranged for him to have lunch with me every day, and she sent home a bag of groceries each Friday for the family. No one asked her to. She just did it.”

Outside of her profession, Kim Clark was a person who cared deeply about others. The same kindness she showed her students extended to everyone she encountered. She understood the power of small gestures—a kind word, a patient moment, a listening ear—and used them to lift those around her. She volunteered at the Onalaska Food Pantry every third Saturday of the month. She ran the Pertzsch PTO’s annual book fair for a decade. She coached a local youth softball team called the Blue Lightning for five summers, never missing a single practice.

The Tragedy on State Highway 93: What We Know

The circumstances of her passing are heartbreaking. A life dedicated to helping others was taken in an instant, leaving behind questions and grief that are difficult to carry.

According to the Wisconsin State Patrol report, the crash occurred at approximately 2:47 PM on Saturday. Weather conditions were clear, and the roadway was dry. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a silver sedan—later identified as the vehicle driven by the other motorist—drift across the double yellow line into northbound traffic. Kim Clark swerved onto the shoulder in an apparent attempt to avoid the collision, but the impact was unavoidable.

The other driver, described only as a male in his late 50s, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Toxicology results are pending, and authorities have stated that no charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing, with accident reconstruction specialists analyzing vehicle data recorders and skid marks.

Lieutenant Brian C. Harwood of the Wisconsin State Police addressed the media briefly on Sunday: “This is a tragic incident that has claimed the life of a valued member of this community. Our hearts go out to the Clark family, to the students and staff of Irving Pertzsch Elementary, and to all who knew and loved Mrs. Clark. We are conducting a thorough investigation and will release additional information as it becomes available, consistent with the integrity of that process.”

Family and Loved Ones Left Behind

Her family has lost a beloved presence. Kim Clark is survived by:

· Robert Clark (father) of Onalaska
· Linda Clark (mother) of Onalaska
· Jennifer M. Clark-Harris (younger sister) of Madison
· Thomas R. Clark (younger brother) of Minneapolis
· Nephews Ethan and Caleb Harris, ages 9 and 6, who called her “Auntie Kim” and for whom she never missed a birthday or school play
· Her longtime partner, Andrew J. Novak, a Onalaska firefighter who had been with Clark for eight years. The couple shared a home and a rescue dog named Maple, a golden retriever mix.

In a brief, emotionally raw statement released through Dickinson Family Funeral Home, the Clarks wrote: “Our hearts are shattered. Kim was the best of us—patient, kind, and endlessly giving. She spent her life making sure children knew they mattered. We ask for privacy as we try to understand how to say goodbye.”

Andrew Novak posted a single sentence on his private social media account, which was later shared publicly by friends: “I don’t know how to come home to a house without her. Maple keeps waiting by the door.”

School and Community Response

Irving Pertzsch Elementary School opened its doors on Monday not as a place of instruction, but as a place of grief. Principal Dr. Marcia K. Ellsworth canceled regular classes and instead held a “Day of Remembrance and Reflection.” Grief counselors from the School District of Onalaska were brought in, as were therapy dogs from the La Crosse County Humane Society.

Ellsworth addressed a crowded gymnasium of students, parents, and staff: “Mrs. Clark taught us that every single person in this room matters. Today, we honor her by showing up for each other—by crying if we need to, by hugging if we want to, and by remembering that her love for each of you was real.”

A makeshift memorial has grown outside the school’s main entrance. Stuffed animals, handwritten letters, drawings, flowers, and dozens of apples—Clark’s favorite classroom decoration—line the walkway. One letter, written in unsteady third-grade handwriting, reads: “Dear Mrs. Clark, thank you for teaching me times tables. I will be brave like you said. Love, Mia.”

Another note, from a parent named Christina R. Delgado, read: “Mrs. Clark, you taught my son to read when he was sure he couldn’t. You stayed late. You never gave up. You are the reason he loves school. I am so sorry. We will never forget you.”

Funeral Arrangements and How to Pay Respects

Dickinson Family Funeral Home (1425 Jackson Street, Onalaska) is handling arrangements. A public visitation will be held on Friday, May 2, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Onalaska United Methodist Church (212 4th Avenue North), with Pastor Elizabeth R. Stanton officiating. Interment will follow at Onalaska City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the Clark family has requested donations be made to two causes close to Kim’s heart:

1. The Irving Pertzsch Elementary School Classroom Library Fund (checks payable to “Pertzsch PTO,” memo: Kim Clark Memorial Library)
2. The Onalaska Food Pantry (1260 2nd Avenue South, Onalaska, WI 54650)

Additionally, Andrew Novak has announced the creation of the Kim Clark Kindness Grant, a small fund that will provide classroom supplies and books to new third-grade teachers at Pertzsch Elementary in perpetuity. Donations can be made online via a GoFundMe page verified by the school district.

Her Lasting Legacy

Yet even in this sorrow, Kim Clark’s legacy remains clear. It lives on in the countless students she taught—the lessons she instilled, the confidence she built, and the kindness she modeled. It lives on in the fellow educators she inspired and in the community that felt her impact.

Dr. Ellsworth put it best during her Monday morning address: “We will not let Kim’s light go out. Every time a third-grader at Pertzsch struggles with a word and keeps trying, that’s Kim. Every time a teacher stays late to help a child who is falling behind, that’s Kim. Every time someone chooses kindness when it would be easier to look away—that is Kim Clark.”

When we remember Kim Clark, we remember a life of purpose. A life spent investing in others. A life that mattered deeply in ways that cannot be measured but will always be felt.

As her students continue their journeys, they will carry pieces of her with them—in their love of learning, in their belief in themselves, and in the example of compassion she set. That is the lasting gift of a teacher like Kim.

To her family, may you find strength in knowing how many lives she touched and how deeply she was appreciated. To her students, may you hold onto what she taught you, both in and out of the classroom. And to the community of Onalaska, may you honor her not just in grief, but in the way you treat one another.

Rest in peace, Kim Clark. Your work here made the world brighter, and your memory will continue to inspire for years to come.