Clara Mae (Blom) HOPKEY

HOPKEY, BLOM, MEYER, FULLENKAMP, BARNARD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/28/2008 at 12:02:03

09/25/2008
Belmond Independent, Iowa

Clara Mae Hopkey, 88, Latimer, died September 21, 2008 at Franklin General Hospital in Hampton. She was born at home in Alexander on May 30, 1920, the daughter of Harry and Julia (Meyer) Blom. She graduated from Alexander High School in 1938. On February 5, 1941 she married LaVern Hopkey at the Nazareth Lutheran Parsonage in Coulter. They farmed for over 40 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and sister Beulah. She is survived by sons Larry (Virgene) Hopkey of Albert Lea and Edward (Marilyn) Hopkey of Evanston, IN; two granddaughters; three great grandchildren; and brother Delbert Blom of Grundy Center.

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May 30, 1920 – September 21, 2008

Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer with burial in the Marion Center Cemetery rural Latimer. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton. Pastor Tom Cofer will officiate the service.

Clara Mae Hopkey, 88, of Latimer, Iowa, passed away September 21, 2008, at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton, Iowa. She was the middle child of Harry and Julia (Meyer) Blom, born at their home in Alexander, Iowa, on May 30, 1920. She was baptized and confirmed at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Coulter, Iowa. Clara Mae graduated from Alexander Consolidated High School in 1938. In those days, it was a common occurrence for young women to live and work for other families and Clara did this for several families in the Alexander vicinity. On February 5, 1941, Clara Mae Blom married LaVern Hopkey at the Nazareth Lutheran Parsonage in Coulter and they settled into farming just down the road from her parents. Clara was known for her generous spirit. While growing up, she cared for her sister, Beulah, who had contracted polio during the Depression. She continued to help after her marriage while also helping her husband with farm activities. LaVern and Clara Mae farmed for 40 years and then retired to Latimer. They were married for 62 years and raised two sons, Larry and Edward. One of her many joys was being with family, relatives and friends. Clara also enjoyed crafts such as ceramics, sewing, crocheting, gardening and raising flowers. She spent many happy hours quilting with the members of the UCC Quilting Club. Other activities through the years were Evening Women's Fellowship and the Facts & Fun Club of Alexander. Two little known facts about Clara Mae were that she and LaVern loved to go dancing a couple of evenings each week and she was the "noodle-making queen" of the UCC church!

Clara Mae is survived by sons Larry (Virgene) Hopkey, Albert Lea, MN; Edward (Marilyn) Hopkey, Evanston, IN; granddaughters Allison (John) Fullenkamp, Troy, OH; Angie (Matt) Barnard, Foosland, IL; great grandchildren Jonah and Greta Fullenkamp and Alex Barnard, brother Delbert Blom, Grundy Center, IA and numerous nieces and nephews. Clara was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and sister.

http://www.sietsemavogelfuneralhomes.com/obits/Clara%20Mae%20Hopkey.pdf