Clara Wichman

The Lord called home one of His angels, Clara Rose Wichman, of Waucoma, Iowa, at the age of 96. Clara passed away at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Saturday, February 2, 2013. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 7, 2013, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Waucoma, with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waucoma where there will be a 3:00 p.m. rosary. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Thursday. Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton is in charge of the arrangements. Clara Rose Wichman was born the eldest of six siblings to Frank John and Cecelia N. (Schmitt) Vrzak, in Navan, IA on the Vrzak family farm. She received her education in rural schools and the Waucoma High School. She followed her high school education by attending the former Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA. She then taught many grades in the area's country schools and stopped teaching following her marriage. On June 10, 1941, she was united in marriage to Clarence Wichman at Assumption Catholic Church in Little Turkey, IA. To this union seven children were born. Clara spent several years helping her husband on the farms near New Hampton, Lawler, Little Turkey and Waucoma before they moved into the town of Waucoma. Clara cooked for the B.V.M. Sisters at St.Mary’s School and was a custodian at St. Mary’s School, the Turkey Valley School and the State Bank of Lawler in Waucoma. She cleaned and decorated homes as well as minding the children of others. She lived her life helping others. Clarence died on December 21, 1988. On July 2, 2007, Clara moved into the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Memberships include St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Rosary Society in Waucoma, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Jolly Old-Timers. She enjoyed playing cards and doing word-searches. Survivors include five daughters, Shirley Riha of Waucoma, Judy (Ed) Heying of Chandler, AZ, Harriet (Ron) Dabler of Marion, IA, Beverly (Leon) Heying of Lexington, SC and Joyce (Steve) Kuennen of Waucoma; one son, Gary (Sally) Wichman of Gilbertville, IA; fourteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; three sisters-in-law, Arlene Vrzak of Waucoma, Millie (Duane) Galligan of New Hampton and Helen (Jack) Whalen of Lawler. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Dale Wichman; one son-in-law, Dan Riha; one sister, Evelyn Winter; four brothers, Frankie Vrzak, Joseph Vrzak, James Vrzak, Walter Vrzak; three brothers-in-law, Irvin Winter, Virgil Bengfort, Charles Wichman; one sister-in-law, Arthalinda (Wichman) Bengfort.