Clarence N. ABBAS

ABBAS, CHRISTIANS, MADDICK, KELLER, VELDHOUSE, PETERS, TRENARY, SWYTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/14/2008 at 11:01:38

November 8, 2006
Mason City Globe Gazette, IA

KANAWHA - Clarence N. Abbas (also known as "Tanky," "Bud" or "Nick"), 90, of Kanawha, passed away Monday (Nov. 6, 2006) at his home in Kanawha. Funeral services for Clarence Abbas will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the United Methodist Church in Kanawha with the Rev. Cynthia Morrison officiating. Burial will be in Amsterdam Township Cemetery near Kanawha.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, 118 E. Second St. in Kanawha, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Clarence, one of nine children born to Daniel Abbas and Nancy Christians, was born on Sunday, June 4, 1916, on the family farm one mile south and one half mile east of Kanawha. He attended the country school three miles south of Kanawha through the eighth grade. Four years later, he graduated from Kanawha High School at the age of 16. In 1936, Clarence was united in marriage with Vera Maddick. The couple had one son, Larry, born three years later. Clarence and Vera farmed in Wright County until 1970 when they moved to Kanawha. He was a Pioneer Seed dealer for 42 years and was also a dealer for Hy-Line chickens. Clarence thoroughly loved his jobs. For many years, the couple spent every winter at Pine-to-Palm Park in Weslaco, Texas. He enjoyed traveling, antiquing and collecting old toys. Clarence enjoyed fishing and sports; at one time he had a young men's kitten ball team and a bowling team. He also enjoyed good music, especially polka music, and doing nice things for people in need. He claimed he had about 150 of the best friends anyone could wish for. Clarence was baptized at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church and later joined the United Methodist Church in Kanawha. His joy was reading the Bible daily and in the past he enjoyed teaching the young folks society.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 70 years Vera; son Larry and his wife, Kathleen of Kanawha; three grandchildren, Kurt Abbas and his wife, Kara, and their two children, Kristen Keller and her husband, David, and their two children, and Nicholas Abbas and his daughter; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Nancy Abbas; four brothers, Fred, Anno, Chris and George; and four sisters, Grace Veldhouse, Tena Peters, Bena Trenary and Faye Swyter.