Clara Minnie Anderson

Clara Anderson, age 101, of Marshall, Minnesota, died on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at the Prairie Home Hospice – Lockwood House in Marshall. Funeral Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota. Interment will follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Canby, Minnesota. Attendees are invited to a reception at the AmericInn Hotel in Marshall. Family will be available from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and a light lunch will be provided. Visitation will be held 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Friday, June 21, 2019, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. A prayer service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., again at the Hamilton Funeral Home.

Clara Minnie Wilking was born on November 9, 1917, in Limestone Township, near Ivanhoe, Minnesota, to William and Emma (Wagner) Wilking. Clara attended country school, and after graduating she helped her parents on their farm.

In 1935, Clara married John Gladis and to this union four children were born: Marlys, Shirley, Jerry, and Dennis. After John’s passing in February of 1953, Clara moved to Marshall.

On April 6, 1955, she married Eugene Anderson and to this union three children were born: Curtis, Cheryl, and Sonya. Clara and Eugene made their home in Marshall. Eugene passed away on January 25, 1992.

Clara was a strong and independent soul who provided for her family after moving to Marshall by helping to operate the C and C Cafe and later working for many years as the manager of the Woolworth’s lunch counter.

She loved her family and was a wonderful grandmother. Clara was an accomplished cook and baker who loved special occasions and visits with her extended family. She loved to read and after her eyesight failed, she read more than 1,200 books in the Minnesota Talking Book Library. She enjoyed various crafts and also dancing during her younger years.

Clara is survived by two sons, Dennis Gladis (Richard Luce) of Minneapolis, Curtis Anderson (Gretchen Michael) of Washington DC; two daughters, Marlys (Ed) Marczak of Marshall, Cheryl (Jim) Bernardy of Ankeny, IA; daughter-in-law, Marlis Gladis of Tracy; 19 Grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, John Gladis and Eugene Anderson; son, Jerry Gladis; daughters, Shirley (Sherwood) Kaehler, Sonya Lemcke; granddaughters, Sandra Marczak, Megan Lemcke Borstad; grandsons, Garrie Marczak, Randall Marczak, Kevin Marczak; infant great-grandsons, Michael Marczak, Erik Anderson; parents; 4 sisters, Mabel Richter, Augusta Tilbury, Esther Hoff, Florence Van Dale; brother, William Wilking Jr.; and an infant brother.

Blessed Be Her Memory. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Prairie Home Hospice in Marshall.