Miller, Clela C. (1918-2017)

MILLER, SHELLENBERGER, SMITH, MERTEN, OWEN, ZOUCHA, BUMGARDNER, ELBERT, QUINN, SCOTT, DINGES, TALLMAN, WALLISCH, GRAY, FLEMING

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/24/2017 at 11:55:25

Clela C. Miller
February 13, 1918 - January 23, 2017

Clela C. Miller, age 98, of Storm Lake, Iowa, formerly of Early, Iowa, died on Monday, January 23, 2017, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.

Clela Catherine Shellenberger, a daughter of William and Loretta (Smith) Shellenberger, was born on February 13, 1918, in Nemaha, Iowa. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Early where she graduated in 1935. Then, she continued her education at Mt. Mercy Junior College where she earned a certificate in education in 1937. Shortly thereafter, she began teaching country school in the Early area. On January 8, 1940, Clela married Herman Merten, Jr., in Early. Subsequently, they were blessed with six children: William, Richard, Jean, Thomas, Rosemary, and Kathleen.

A member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, Clela actively participated in the Catholic Daughters of America and the Ladies Guild. In addition, she belonged to the Camera Club in Storm Lake. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing cards, and dancing. She will be remembered as a loving and faithful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend to many who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children: William (Joleen) Merten, Richard (Elizabeth) Merten, and Jean (John) Owen, all of Storm Lake, Iowa, Rosemary (Sal) Zoucha, of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Kathy (Tom) Bumgardner, of La Vista, Nebraska; her daughter-in-law, Susan Merten, of Apache Junction, Arizona; seventeen grandchildren: Paul, Donna, David, Kevin, Lisa, Beth, John, Amy, Colleen, Deena, Eric, Ben, Greg, Mark, Forrest, Angela, and Troy; 27 great grandchildren; her sisters, Rose Evelyn Elbert, of Mankato, Minnesota, and Paula Quinn, of Minnetonka, Minnesota; and her brother-in-law, Ralph Scott, of Smithville, Texas; as well as extended family members and friends.

Clela was preceded in death by her parents; her three husbands, Herman Merten, Jr., Joseph Dinges, and Vernon Miller; her son, Thomas Merten; her sisters: Marian (Joseph) Tallman, Marie (Newell) Wallisch, Winifred (Bob) Gray, Helen (Clem) Elbert, Joan (Jack) Fleming, and Clarice Scott; her brother, Robert (Dorothy) Shellenberger; and her brothers-in-law, Archie Elbert and Harold Quinn.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 4, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will take place for one hour before the service at the church. A memorial fund in Clela's name has been established. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is overseeing the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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