Willard Carsten Clement

Willard C. Clement, age 87, of Ossian, Iowa and formerly of rural Decorah, died Friday, December 3, 2004 at Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, Iowa following a short illness. Funeral Service is on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at 11:00 A.M. at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah by Rev. Kim W. Smith, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is on Monday, December 6, 2004 from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and after 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at the church. Willard Carsten Clement was born February 25, 1917 in Decorah, Iowa, the son of Edgar and Clara (Wangsness) Clement. He was Baptized and Confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Willard graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1934 and was a member of the football team. He was united in marriage with Olla Jennette Waters on March 10, 1941 at the East Clermont Lutheran Church Parsonage in Clermont, Iowa. To this union, four children were born: Sondra, Carsten, Roger and Douglas. Willard and Olla farmed for many years. He began farming for a short time near Albert Lea, Minnesota, where their oldest son, Carsten, was born. Then the couple moved to Winneshiek County where they farmed in Frankville Township for many years and had two other sons, Roger and Douglas. Their oldest child, Sondra, was born in Decorah. They retired from farming and moved to Ossian, Iowa in 1989. Olla preceded Willard in death on May 5, 1993. Willard continued to live at the couple’s home in Ossian, until he became a resident of the Ossian Senior Hospice on January 18, 2002. Willard was a member of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, Winneshiek County Farm Bureau, and a former board member of the Frankville Cheese Factory. He loved sports and enjoyed watching football and baseball games on television, especially the Chicago Cubs. Willard also enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. Willard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Olla on May 5, 1993; his daughter, Sondra Schara and her daughter, Bobbett Schara who died together on June 23, 1967; and by one brother, Edward Clement. Survivors include his three sons, Carsten (Linda) Clement of Rochester, MN., Roger (Jan) Clement of Nes Hampton, IA., Douglas Clement and his companion, Judy Callaghan of Hampton, VA.; three grandchildren, Russell Clement of New Hampton, Ross Clement of Fort Atkinson, IA., and Heather (Christopher) Silvia of Miramar, FL.; three step-grandchildren, Jill (Steve) Chopp of Rochester, MN., Brad (Susan) McCoy of Cedarville, OH., Lara (Billy) Reece of Monks Corner, SC; three great-grandchildren and fifteen step great-grandchildren; two sisters, Kathryn Hoyme of Decorah and Lilah Hughes of Postville, IA.