Claire Russell "Red" ADAMS

ADAMS, BOHL, CLEVELAND, KNOPF, GIFFORD, CHAMBERS, TESTROET

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/29/2008 at 10:57:16

Mason City Globe Gazette
January 14, 2005

CHARLES CITY — Funeral service for Claire Russell "Red" Adams, 71, of 1702 Ohio Ave., Charles City, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Marble Rock Community Center with Pastor Dave Werges of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City officiating. Burial will be in Westside Cemetery, Marble Rock, with military rites conducted by Stroud Gates Post No. 387, American Legion of Marble Rock. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Reid's Funeral Chapel, 423 Bradford St. in Marble Rock. Visitation will continue at the Community Center one hour before services.

Claire Russell Adams was born Feb. 21, 1933, in Aureola, Union Township, Floyd County, a son of Clarence Clifford and Marie Catherine (Bohl) Adams; and died Wednesday (Jan. 12, 2005) at Floyd County Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home. He received his education in Marble Rock public schools, graduating in 1950. Red was instrumental in helping the Marble Rockets advance to the 1950 state sub finals. He lettered in baseball in high school and college. He attended Upper Iowa at Fayette and Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, where he received his B.A. in 1958 and his M.A. in 1963. He later earned his sixth year specialist degree in 1976. On Feb. 10, 1953, he was inducted into the United States Army, where he served with the service battery, 246th field artillery, as a cook. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 9, 1955.

Following his discharge, he worked for Decker and Sons meat packing plant in Mason City. He taught schools in Shelbyville, Mo., Cylinder, and Riceville. He served as principal of schools at Dows (1976-1979), superintendent and elementary principal at Thompson (1979-1996), superintendent at Lakota (1990-1992) and superintendent at Buffalo Center (1996-1997).

He was united in marriage to Mary Louise Cleveland on Sept. 7, 1956, at the Little Brown Church at Nashua. To this union were born six children. Red's interests included fishing, hunting and bowling. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren. He loved to tease them terribly, and was always willing to take them to ball games. He was a life member of the Iowa State Education Association and the National Education Association. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 409 of Crystal Lake and a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose No. 1328 in Mason City.

Living family members include his loving wife of 48 years, Mary, of Charles City; two daughters, Shari Lynn (Greg) Knopf of Clear Lake, and Saundra Lou (Chad) Gifford of Burt; four sons, Steven (Brenda) Adams of Palatine, Ill., Stanton Adams of Thompson, Shawn (Peggy) Adams and Scott Adams all of Des Moines; 10 grandchildren; one sister, Fern Chambers, of Mason City. Also surviving include several brothers and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Eugene Adams (1934); a brother-in-law, Roy Chambers; and a sister-in-law, Jane Testroet.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the "Red" Adams Memorial Fund in care of the family. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Reid's Funeral Chapel.