Charles Jerome Clarahan
CLARAHAN, MENKE, THOLE, DEAHR, DAVIDSON, SCHREINER, STUBBS, OLSON, WITT, LOVELADY, SMEATON, DUWA
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 6/23/2020 at 14:26:16
Charles Jerome Clarahan, 85, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 11, 2020 following an extended illness.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16th from 4 to 7 PM at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, where the Rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM. Graveside committal services with military honors will be at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, June 17th at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Please respect social distancing and we encourage friends to wear masks.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, June 27th at 9 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Charlie was born on June 23, 1934 in Harper IA, to Richard and Veolet Clarahan. He graduated from St. Elizabeth’s High School in 1952 where he met his “sweetie” Elizabeth Jane Menke. Charlie went on to study at St. Ambrose University. In 1954 he joined the US Army and served his country for two years at the Nike Missile Site in Chicago. Charlie and Jane were joined in marriage on March 2, 1957. Charlie attended Barber School and went to work at Meyer’s Barber Shop. In 1964 he opened the Hawkeye Barber Shop in Iowa City with his dear friend Dick Pieper. He worked with Dick until 1971 when he became a part time agent for Northwestern Mutual, going fulltime with NML in 1972. Charlie enjoyed his work serving his clients and helping them prepare and plan for their future and for taking care of their families. He was a well liked and respected agent with NML until he retired in 2015.
Faith and family were in the center of everything Charlie did. He and Jane raised seven children in a home rich in faith and love. His love and dedication to Jane and his children was second only to his great love of the Lord. Throughout their marriage Charlie and Jane were active members of St. Wenceslaus and St. Patrick’s Churches in Iowa City. His booming bass voice graced the choir in both churches where singing praises to the Lord brought him great joy! He was also a frequent attendee of daily mass.
Charlie carried a positive attitude with him each and every day. Armed with his faith and that positive attitude, he battled and survived non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. Charlie will be remembered fondly for his humor and infectious smile. He spread joy to others with his jokes and stories, believing firmly that laughter was a key ingredient in a life well lived.
Charlie truly lived a life rich in integrity, kindness, compassion, and faithfulness. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends; as each of them knows, they are a better person for having known and been loved by Charlie.Charlie is survived by his loving wife Jane; children Rick (Sarah) Clarahan, Sergeant Bluff, IA; Susan (fiancé Mike) Thole, Solon, IA; Mary Jane (Jeff) Deahr, Grimes, IA; Marcia (Randy) Davidson, Iowa City, IA; Bill (Robin) Clarahan, Iowa City, IA; Tricia (Andy) Schreiner, West Des Moines, IA; twelve grandchildren: Joe (Heather) Davidson, Tamra Thole, Amber (John) Stubbs, Megan (Brian) Olson, Greg (Ali) Thole, Jenny (Ben) Witt, Cody Davidson, Jake Clarahan, Shelby Clarahan, Kelsey Clarahan, Bailey Schreiner, Drew Schreiner and eight great-grandchildren: Fern Stubbs, Kennedy Witt, Connor Davidson, Mary Stubbs, Colton Davidson, Hadley Witt, Oliver Witt, and Finn Lovelady; his siblings, Marietta Smeaton of Davenport and Paul (Eileen) Clarahan of Marion.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Veolet Clarahan; son Philip Allan Clarahan; sister Kathleen Duwa; brother Donald Clarahan.
The family would like to thank the staff at Crestview Specialty Care in West Branch for the excellent and compassionate care they provided.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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