Cullum No. 633018 | October 27, 2017 | Died in The Villages, FL

Interred in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL ____________________________________

Joe Kotouc Clema was born on September 23, 1938 in Omaha, NE (of Czechoslovakian heritage) to Joe A. Clema and Sylva Marie Kotouc. Joe was an extra-ordinary, patriotic man with strong values. As an Army veteran and a military scientist, Joe had a long career and life of achievements in science and technology, which started at West Point with the Class of 1961.

Joe was highly influenced toward West Point by his father’s life in military service, which started during World War II when his father, Colonel Joe A. Clema, joined Major General George S. Patton and the 2nd Armored Division in North Africa.

In 1953, the family moved to Arlington, VA, where Joe’s father was assigned to the Pentagon to work on the new space program, led by the highly recognized scientist Walter Von Braun. His father’s assignment helped cement Joe’s early interest in science. In 1957, Joe graduated from Washington Lee High School with National Honors in Science

Following Beast Barracks, Joe and his two roommates took Russian, and the authorities decided that their living together and speaking the same language should be very beneficial; however, this language experiment failed. Joe proved to be a chemistry hive. Prior education and high school projects served him well, and he was top notch academically in his favorite subject. At West Point Joe was a member of the Boxing Team and became an avid tennis player

Joe’s interests had always been science, math, and engineering, so he resigned in March 1960 and went to the University of Nebraska, where he obtained a BS in chemistry. He entered the Army and was assigned to conduct chemical warfare research at Edgewood Arsenal at Fort Collins, CO. This assignment took him to Germany and France for several years. After four years in the Chemical Corps and Corps of Engineers, he left the Army and returned to college to get his MS in industrial engineering (computing and math) at the University of Miami and his Ph.D. in computer and software engineering at Colorado State University

Subsequently, Joe held positions in computing and software development management in high-level companies for more than 35 years. He also held elected positions in the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), was a senior member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, was selected as a computer pioneer by the Society for Computer Simulation, was a national lecturer for the ACM, and was an esteemed member of many prestigious professional organizations. A pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence, he was gratified to see the benefits of his contributions in everyday life. His love and enthusiasm for science led him to publish more than 45 professional papers, and his name and biography appeared in Marquis’ “Who’s Who in the World” for many years

His expertise in computer sciences, as well as his experience in the field of technology, led him to the top post as senior scientist for the 1st Information Operations Command at Fort Belvoir, VA. Joe held this position until his retirement in 2012, after which he started his own company, JKC Enterprises, which provided products and services in the information technology area

His enthusiasm for life was not only contagious but also inspiring. He was a proud and very humble man who never relinquished his great sense of humor, which anyone who knew him will long remember. His legacy as a scientist will be remembered. His complete biography was chosen to be included in the White House Millennium Time Capsule as one of the enduring items to represent America at the turn of the millennium. This is considered a great honor

While serving as a national lecturer for the ACM, he was invited by the University of Ottawa in Canada to a NATO conference where he met his wife to be, Esthella. They were married in 1985 and settled in Herndon, VA, where she became an instructor, competitor and manager of her own professional dance studio. Later, after a fulfilling career together, they moved to The Villages in Florida, where Joe joined the Parkinson’s Fight Club. There, he made great friends whom he enjoyed and cherished until his last days. Joe touched and inspired so many people over the years, and his legacy will be a treasured gift to those who knew him

Esthella remembers that later in Joe’s life he was asked many times how he kept such an optimistic hope for the future. He always brought up his everyday favorite line…“I learned it at West Point.” For Joe, each day his thoughts would go back to The Corps. He always credited West Point for the strength of his spirit. His trials in his life never took away his great sense of humor and happiness. They certainly never conquered his beautiful soul. He lived the exemplary life for which West Point stands

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Jennifer “Jen” Clema. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Esthella Clema, his brother Bill Clema, his sister-in-law Judy Clema, and his niece Kristy Clema. A funeral service with full military honors was held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. Joe loved poetry, with “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley being his favorite. Esthella had it read at his funeral service

Well Done, Joe. You fought the good fight. Be Thou at Peace