Mary Ellen (DeGear) Clemens 1922-2005

CLEMENS, DEGEAR, GOETZ, TOBIN, SUNLEAF

Posted By: cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 8/4/2019 at 21:11:10

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, September 18, 2005

Mary Ellen Clemens, 83, of 515 Sunset Ridge, died at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at home, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Nativity Catholic Church. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there will be a wake service at 7:30 p.m.

She was born on Sept. 2, 1922, in Bellevue, Iowa, daughter of Orion and Alvina (Goetz) DeGear.

She graduated from Bellevue (Iowa) High School and attended the University of Dubuque, where she received her Teaching Certificate in 1941.

She taught first and second grade in East Dubuque, Ill., and worked for Zuckerman's Clothing Store and enjoyed modeling for them at hospital Guild charity events until her marriage.

She met William Michael Clemens Jr. and in 1944, they were married at the Wood Chapel at the Lake, at Notre Dame University, Bill's Alma mater. They moved to Dubuque, where Bill was part owner of Trausch Baking Co. with his father Bill Sr., and were blessed with three children, Michael, Terry and Patricia.

She was a former member of the Dubuque Golf & Country Club and various women's and charitable organizations. In the 1950s she was involved with fundraising for the Polio Foundation in Dubuque.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, was an avid pianist and loved spending time with her grandchildren

Surviving are a daughter, M. Patricia (Terry) Tobin, of Dubuque; a son, M. Terrence (Christine) Clemens, of Northville, Mich.; five grandchildren, twins, Jim and Tony Clemens, and Jennie Clemens, all of Northville, and Caren and Andy Tobin, of Dubuque; a sister Rose Marie Sunleaf, of Montezuma, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; a son, William Michael Clemens III; her parents; brothers, Gerald and Donald; and sisters, Virginia and Joan.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and request memorials in Mary Ellen's name be given to Hospice of Dubuque and the American Cancer Society, and Mary made a special request, that in honor of her friend that we remember all those who suffer from Alzheimer's.