Clara Williams

Clara Williams, age 84, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Saturday, October 20, 2007, at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa, following a lingering illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2007, at the Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. James Glesne, Rev. Bryan Robertson and Rev. Allen Vik officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Tuesday morning. Clara Jeanette Williams was born on June 14, 1923, the daughter of Gilbert and Luella (Jaastad) Anderson in Decorah, Iowa. Clara was baptized and confirmed at the Decorah Lutheran Church. She attended country school in Madison Township and Decorah Community Schools. She married Leon Williams on October 24, 1941, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, Iowa. Clara worked at JC Penney for thirty years. Clara was a life-long member of the Decorah Lutheran Church, where she was always a willing volunteer and a member of the ladies circle. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, fishing, cleaning and keeping her home spotless. Clara’s survivors include her two daughters: Carol (Ivan) Reed, Lincoln, NE and Linda (Mark) Styve, Waterloo, IA. Six grandchildren: Kimberly Brown, Chris (Carolynn) Reed, Jan (Marc) Karrmann, Brad Styve, Beth (Mike) Bromley and Markie (friend, Nikki) Styve. Eight great grandchildren: Scott Brown, Nick Brown, Allison Karrmann, Jessica Karrmann, Natalie Karrmann, Kiera Reed, Wren Bromley and Myka Bromley. Five sisters: Almeda (Robert) Grindland, Seattle, WA; Pauline Keune, Decorah, IA; Beverly (Carsten) Steen, Waterloo, IA; Frances (Emil) Frana, Decorah, IA and Katherine Holten, Cedar Rapids, IA. Two brothers: Gordon (Marion) Anderson, Decorah, IA and Donald (Anita) Cedar Rapids, IA. One sister-in-law: Lois Anderson, Calmar, IA. Clara was preceded in death by her parents. Her husband, Leon in 1989. Two sisters: Loretta Phillips and Irene Groth. One brother: Herman Anderson.