Service Details
A celebration of his life will be held at the Lutheran of Church the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St. at 12 Noon on Saturday, April 30th. Visitation Church will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. The service will be live streamed at the following link:
Memorial Suggestions
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials be directed to either the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio Street, Racine, WI 53405, the Wisconsin Humane Society-Racine Campus, 8900-16th St. Sturtevant, WI 53177, or the Hospitality Center, 614 Main St. Racine, WI 53403.
Clyde “Kit” Planet Canman, born in St. Louis, MO on January 1, 1938, passed away at his residence in Franksville, WI on April 23, 2022, with his family by his side. Orphaned at a young age, Kit worked as a farm hand putting himself through college at UW Lacrosse eventually earning his Masters degree at St. Louis University in Illinois. He was a life-long educator who began teaching English in Holmen, WI, then moved to Racine to teach English, Speech, and Drama at Washington Junior High School, transferring to Horlick High School where he taught English for nearly 30 years ending his career as department chair. Kit was married to his wife, Mary Jane, for 52 years, was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Racine, played in numerous card groups, and refereed many cherry pit spitting contests for his grandchildren. Kit had a wonderful sense of humor, enjoyed reading, traveling, theater, music, running, playing cards, taking numerous canine companions to the dog run, being with his family, and was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan. After living his teen years on a farm in Sparta, WI, he also had a green thumb and a deep love for animals. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis P and Carrie (Wood) Canman, sister Eileen (Clarence) Heasty, brother Allen (Dorothy) Canman, brother Louis P (Janet) Canman, sister Kay (Ron) Redmon, and sister Dorothy (Elmer) Heinzer. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; daughters, Dr. Julie Canman of New York, NY and Suzanne (Tim) Canady of Kenosha, WI; grandchildren, Louis P Canady and Caroline Canady; numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved beagle, Homer. A special thanks to Melissa Anderson for her care and compassion at the end.
Mr and Mrs Leo Palacios says
Kit, you will be in our hearts for ever. Your kindness and good humor were always that part of your personality we always admired. You are now with the Lord.
Yvonne Stone says
I have many fond memories of Kit of when we were both teaching at Washington Jr. He certainly did have a great sense of humor. I know you and your family are going to miss him. Deepest sympathy!
Leif and Candy Peterson says
So sorry for your loss
Sue and Dave Cawley says
The best kind of friend! We have wonderful memories from 50 years of friendship. We were blessed to know you and will always be grateful fo the fun times we shared!
Sonja Bengtson says
I am so sorry to learn of Kit’s passing. My sincerest blessings to you, Mary Jane, and your beautiful family.
Kirsten Artmann Weiss says
So sorry to learn of your loss, Mary Jane. Blessings!
Dori and Paul Rossmann says
Our deepest sympathies Mary Jane to you your family.
Susan Sandvick says
When I think of Kit Canman, I think of a wicked sense of humor, his love for his cats and dogs, and gravity boots.
Kit had some gravity boots during an impressionable time in my life and forever the two will be linked together in my brain. I’m sure that those boots were barely a hiccup in his life of health fads, but clearly, Little Susie Sandvick was impressed that my friend’s dad would hang upside-down like a bat on a bar in his basement.
Kit was the kind of dad you wanted at your slumber party. He was fun and entertaining, and as I grew older I discovered he was a great person to have on your team for game night. My childhood memories are filled with sleepovers, hotel pools, Door County trips, Badger games, and holidays with the Canman’s, and Kit made each of those memories even more special.
As the only man in the house, I sometimes felt bad for him being the odd-man-out in a house full of estrogen, but then I would see a glimmer in his eyes when Suzanne and I would want to go fishing in the creek by their house, or Julie would dominate the Science category in Trivial Pursuit, and I knew he adored being a “girl dad.”
Kit’s love for Mary Jane, Julie, Suzanne, Louie, Caroline, Tim, and all of his pets was palpable. He was so proud to call you family and it was clear the love was returned.
May memories of gravity boots and other “Oh Kit…” anecdotes comfort you and make you smile during this time of loss.
All my love,
❤️ Susie
P.S. The Canman’s are the only people I allow to call me Susie. 😉
Joseph W Canman says
I will always remember Uncle Clyde for his sense of humor. I will always remember vacations spent with him in Wisconsin. I will always remember him for his talks and compassion when I had problems at college near him and he would welcome me to his home to reassure me that those feelings were normal growing up. Prayers for Aunt Mary Jane, Suzanne, Louis, Caroline, Julie and the rest of the family on their loss. My only advice is focus on the life you experienced with him and not the loss. Love to everyone!
Megan King says
Dear Canman Family,
Sympathies on Kit’s passing and may his memory live on.
Mrs Canman, you will forever have a place in my heart as my first grade teacher. I can’t remember all of my teachers, but I remember you so well. In fact, I just mentioned you to my second grade daughter the other day. She just joined Brownies this year. I remember wearing my Brownie uniform in first grade and sitting in the circle on the floor and your mentioning that I was “the cutest Brownie ever”. Now I have one of my own. Thank you for that sweet memory.
God bless,
Megan King
victor moreno says
Mary Jane I am deeply sorry for your loss. I have many fond memories of Kit in his mentoring as well as his practical jokes. I wish I could have been at his service but I reside in AZ for the winters returning only two weeks ago. As you already know he influenced many young adults in hopes of living a better life. Again I am so sorry.
Respectfully
Victor Moreno