FARNAN, Geraldine Mary

FARNAN, HOGAN, BASSLER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/19/2013 at 10:37:55

Geraldine Mary Farnan, 97, of Clear Lake, died Monday, March 22, peacefully in
her sleep at Oakwood Care Center. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30
a.m. on Thursday, March 25, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with viewing one
hour before. The Rev. John Tilp will officiate at the Mass, assisted by Deacon
John Ayers. Burial will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Visitation is
Wednesday evening from 4:30 to 7 p.m., with a scripture service at 6:30 pm.

Geraldine Farnan was born Sept. 8, 1912, in Harpers Ferry, Iowa. She was the
youngest child of Dr. Benedict and Gertrude (Hogan) Bassler. Her family moved
to Dubuque, Iowa in November 1922. She graduated high school from Immaculate
Conception Academy, Dubuque, in 1929 and Clarke College, Dubuque, in 1933.
Geraldine’s first position after graduating was with the Iowa Department of
Social Services as a social worker in Dubuque and Centerville, Iowa until her
marriage.

She married Thornton J. Farnan (T.J.) on Feb. 20, 1939, at St. Mary’s Catholic
Church in Dubuque. They moved to Clear Lake where T.J. had earlier purchased
the newspaper. She worked part-time at the Clear Lake Mirror until her family
started to arrive, and then she was a full-time housewife.

She was the mother of three sons, Dennis J. (Maureen) of Fort Wayne, Ind., David
N. (Mary Ann) of Shelby Township, Mich., and William T. (Ruth) of White Bear
Lake, Minn. She has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Geraldine was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Today’s Club,
and Crescent Club. Geraldine volunteered in many different capacities at St.
Patrick’s Church. She also served as an officer in the Archdiocesan Council of
Catholic Women for a few years. She loved to cook and was known for her
cinnamon rolls, divinity candy, caramels, pies, cakes, and cookies. She gave
informal baking lessons to a number of family and friends. She was a talented
woman who wrote personal poems for special occasions. All who knew her
considered Geraldine a kind, gentle, and generous woman. In addition to her
family and baking, she enjoyed travel, birds, music, and her family.

Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband, T.J.; youngest son, William; her
sisters, Bernadine Rhomberg and Claudette Bassler; and a brother, Claude
Bassler.