Clara E (Franz) Reimer

Clara E. Reimer, 84, of North Newton, passed away on Sunday (Feb. 19, 2012) at Wesley Medical Center.

She was born on March 21, 1927, on the family farm near Lind, Wash., to Julius and Agatha Franz. She began her primary school at the Schrag (Washington) country school and continued on to graduate from Lind High School in Washington. She then attended Bethel College and graduated with a degree in home economics. When she returned to Washington, she taught home-ec in Lind for several years. In June 1949, she married Walter Reimer, and the two made their home on the family farm. After having her family, she worked as substitute teacher and later as librarian at the Lind High School. Walt and Clara retired in Moses Lake, Wash., and in 2009, they moved to Kidron Retirement Village in North Newton, where they continued to volunteer at the MCC Center and enjoyed attending concerts at Bethel College. Clara enjoyed numerous activities throughout her life. She played the violin during high school and college. She was active at the Menno Mennonite Church (Washington)Women in Missions, and she cooked at the church camp (Camrec) and sang in the church choir for many years. Later, she volunteered at the Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Her passion for sewing and quilting is reflected in every child and grandchild’s home, as well as homes of friends and family and those who purchased her hand-crafted items from the MCC Sale auctions. She also was an active member of the Moses Lake Quilting Club.

She is survived by her husband, Walt; three sisters, Viola Boese, Lucy Harms and Lois Bartel; two children, Greg and Roger; and four grandchildren, Eric, Jason, Chelsea and Roxanne. Clara was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Henry and Leonard; and three sisters, Marlene, Judy Dorsing and Marie Ewert.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton. A memorial and interment service will take place in Ritzville, Wash., on March 10.