Clara Ida Hampe Zuehlke

Clara H. Zuehlke, age 98, of Clifton passed away Thursday, June 30, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clifton. Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery in Clifton. Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 1, at Clifton Funeral Home.

Clara was born on March 27, 1918 to Henry and Anna Walsleben Hampe in Cayote, Bosque County, Texas. She was baptized at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bismark Community. She was confirmed at the same church on June 4, 1933.

On October 23, 1938, Clara married Henry Louise Zuehlke at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Pleasant Hill outside of Clifton. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Alvin Charles, Lawrence David, Beatrice Fern, and Helen Fay. At the time of her death, she was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clifton.

At the age of 39, Clara began her first work outside the home to help her children attend college. She worked as a seamstress in various area businesses until she opened her own custom sewing business at the age of 52 which she names Custom Clothing. Her desire to be a success at this business led her to college classes at McLennan Community College which she enjoyed immensely. Upon her retirement, she sold the business to her daughter, Beatrice, who also made it a success until her death in 2010.

Clara may be best remembered for her smiling face and gentle nature. She enjoyed meeting people and often made a new friend on the spot. Her interests throughout her lifetime included reading, flower gardening, dancing, sewing, and visits with her immediate and extended families. She excelled as a seamstress and was always smartly dressed. Throughout her lifetime, she served her church in various ways, was a member of Clifton Civic Society, and in the last few years until December 2015, she served Lutheran Sunset Ministries as a volunteer at the Pot O' Gold Thrift Shop. She made dozens of new friends at the POG and looked forward to their Thursday adventures.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; daughter, Beatrice; grandson, Rance Morris; parents, Henry and Annie Hampe; brother, Arnold Hampe; and sisters, Lydia Knust and Laverne Adams.

She is survived by her children, Alvin Zuehlke and wife, Annie Ruth, of Meridian, Lawrence Zuehlke and wife, Jan, of Willis, and Helen Morris and husband, James (Jamie) of Clifton; 9 grandchildren, Melissa Zuehlke, Eric Zuehlke and wife, Janet, David Zuehlke and wife, Laurie, Lara Zuehlke, Jana Zuehlke and husband, Howard, Dwayne Guinn and wife, Laurie, Ronda Kroll and husband, Lee, Megan Morris, and Michele Morris; 13 great-grandchildren, Landon Zuehlke, Alex Zuehlke, Coleman Zuehlke, Clara Zuehlke, Sam Zuehlke, Sloan Zuehlke, Piper Bennette, Reete Bennette, Wyatt Guinn, Carter Guinn, Trent Guinn, Ethan Kroll, and Rance Kroll; and siblings, Oscar Hampe of Clifton, Alice Willmann of Clifton, and Louise Oswald of San Saba.

Pallbearers and Honorary Pallbearers will be: Dwayne Guinn, Melissa Zuehlke, Eric Zuehlke, David Zuehlke, Megan Morris, Lara Zuehlke, Jana Bennette, Ronda Kroll, and Michele Morris.

Memorials for Clara may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clifton or to Lutheran Sunset Ministries of Clifton.