VARNER, Franklin C. "Clay" 1911-2000

STEPHENS, VARNER, HANSON, SCHMITT, BINSFIELD

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/8/2010 at 09:50:43

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, March 21, 2000

Franklin Varner

Franklin C. "Clay" Varner, 88, died Saturday, March 18, 2000, at his new home in St. Paul Villa, in Kaukauna, Wis.

It was Clay's wish to be cremated and that a memorial service be held at a later date in DECORAH. The Boettcher Funeral Home of Kaukauna, Wis., is assisting the family with arrangements.

He was born Aug. 10, 1911, in Delphos, the son of the late Omer C. "Pops" and Nina (Stephens) Varner. He attended Simpson College and Iowa State Teacher College, leaving just one quarter short of graduation.

He interrupted his education several times in order to earn enough money to continue, serving as a teacher in the rural schools across Iowa.

When he was offered a job with International Harvester, he left college and soon thereafter purchased Decorah Implement in 1941. Clay spent the majority of his life in DECORAH as an implement and truck dealer until his retirement in 1985.

In DECORAH he was an active member of the community, serving on the City Council for many years, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce, including being president during the Centennial celebration of 1949.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Oneota Golf and Country Club, Elks and the Iowa Implement Dealer Association, serving as the Iowa president for two terms.

Many happy years were spent in Green Valley, Ariz., before moving to Kaukauna, Wis., in 1992.

Clay married the former Lelah Hanson in 1939 and the couple had five children: Ruth Schmitt of West Bend, Wis., Stephen of Roanoke, Va., John (deceased), Faye (Ed) Binsfield of Little Chute, Wis., and William (Patricia) of Tokyo, Japan.

He had great pride in his 10 grandchildren, his step-grandchildren and his eight great-grandchildren.

Other survivors include a brother, Alvin (Galene) Varner of Coronado, Calif.

Clay was a devoted husband who visited his wife daily in her final years at the St. Paul Home in Kaukauna, Wis.

Clay Varner was preceded in death by his wife, Lelah; his son, John; son-in-law, John Schmitt; and three of his four brothers.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.