Clara Boeckenheuer

Clara D. Boeckenheuer, 93, of Reinbeck, Iowa, formerly of Hawkeye, West Union, and Waukon, Iowa, died Tuesday, February 15, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa, from complications of pneumonia. Funeral services were held Friday, February 18, 2005, at the American Lutheran Church in Grundy Center, Iowa, with Pastor David Turner officiating. Burial was in the Hawkeye Cemetery in Hawkeye, Iowa. French-Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck was in charge of arrangements.

Clara was born April 4, 1911, in Krem, N.D., the daughter of Reverend Fred and Emma (Herr) Braun. She graduated from Hudson High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College.

On February 24, 1933, Clara was united in marriage to Carl F. Boeckenheuer of Hawkeye, Iowa. Carl died on June 18, 1971. Clara helped on their farm at Hawkeye and also attended Upper Iowa University. She then took graduate work at the University of Minnesota and spent two summers in Germany. She taught for 26 years in rural, elementary, and high schools. Her later years were spent teaching German in the West Union and Waukon schools, retiring in 1976.

Clara moved to Reinbeck in 1986 living in her own home until moving to Westview Estates in 2001. She loved her family and friends, was an avid reader, enjoyed cards, and loved to travel for as long as she was able.

Survivors include two children, her daughter Dorothy Keith of Reinbeck, Iowa, and her son Charles (Kay) Boeckenheuer of West Union, Iowa; five grandchildren, Debra Keith of Omaha, Neb.; David and Brenda Keith of Vestavia Hills, Ala.; Allan and Cathy Boekenheuer of Calmar, Iowa; Brian and Wendy Boeckenheuer of Ossian, Iowa; and Carletta and Brian Nymeyer of Fort Atkinson, Iowa; eight great-grandchildren, Charlie and Allanda Boeckenheuer, Elizabetha and Johnathan Keith, Bridget Mahr and Kannon Boeckenheuer, and Sadie and Eli Nymeyer; as well as several nieces and nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Carl; one son-in-law Don Keith in 2000; five brothers, Theodore, Walter, Adolph, Arthur, and Winfred; her sister Helen; one son Herbert, who died in 1994; and an infant granddaughter.

A memorial fund has been established.