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Clara Boedeker. 9 Sep 1909 - 16 Aug 2007

BOEDEKER, DUKEWITS, SHOEMAKER, BROWN

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 8/21/2007 at 07:25:49

Clara Louise Boedeker, beloved wife of Arthur, loving and devoted mother, grandmother and friend died on August 16, 2007 at the home of her daughter Gretchen Boedeker Shoemaker in Vienna, Virginia. There will be a brief visitation at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, Iowa after 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 with interment to follow at the Marengo Cemetery.

Clara, born September 9, 1909 in Newton, Kansas, was approaching her 98 th birthday. Clara attended Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, Nebraska, where she studied the pipe organ and received her degree in teaching. Her first teaching position was in Ocheyedan, Iowa, in a one-room schoolhouse. In 1932 Clara married her childhood friend Arthur. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids for many years. While in Cedar Rapids, Clara and Art were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church; here they became life long friends of the late Edwin J. Bruns and his family. A job opening in Iowa with International Harvester brought them to Marengo where they built their home and business, Leo Kelly Company. They raised two daughters, Gretchen and Mitzi, and were instrumental in the building of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Like her mother, Clara was a volunteer church organist. In 1981, Clara reflected on her service as organist at St. John’s from 1939-1979, “This church is the center of our lives. When we came to Marengo the church was a small frame structure. We felt a deep spiritual obligation to work for continued growth. Our goal was a church in the community that would be evidence of our love for God.” Family and church were Clara’s life and making music for the glory of God was her worship. Clara was a proponent of the arts and she valued and supported the community, being active socially and philanthropically. A tireless fundraiser, Clara canvassed the community for support to build the Marengo hospital. She held leadership roles in the Lutheran Ladies Aide, TTT and the Girl Scouts of Cardinal Council. Clara devoted her time to helping young people by being a scout leader, Sunday school teacher for 35 years, and mentor. She hosted international students visiting through the Rotary Club exchange program. Clara played bridge marathons to help raise money for the hospital, and was also a member of social bridge clubs. She was a long-time member of the Marengo Golf Club. After moving to Marengo, Clara maintained her many affiliations with the Cedar Rapids community including board member of The Dance Theater of the Hemispheres, membership at Elmcrest Country Club, and proponent of music and dance at Coe College.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Arthur; parents The Reverend John W. and Clara Dukewits; brothers, Paul, his wife Ada, Walter, John, Carl; niece Juliet Dukewits. Clara is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Gretchen and Clifford Shoemaker (Vienna, Virginia); daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Richard Brown (Afton, Minnesota); grandchildren, John Shoemaker and wife Kimberly, Heidi, Paul and Peter Shoemaker, Elizabeth, Samuel and Helen Brown; nieces, Joan Dukewits Hallman and Janet Dukewits Byers; nephews, Gary, John, James, and Jerome Dukewits; sister-in-law Jane Dukewits.

Services have been held in Vienna, Virginia.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo
Cedar Rapids Gazette 19 Aug 07, 5b


 

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