Clare Klodd passed away Sunday, June 26, 2011. Clare Vessel was born on September 25, 1916 in Chisholm, Minnesota. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a teaching degree in English, Speech and Physical Education, Clare was employed as associate director for U.S. Steel, Duluth, MN. Shortly after her fiancé Walter Klodd returned from WWII, they married and the couple moved to Cedar Rapids, IA. She took a job as Health Recreation Director for the Cedar Rapids YWCA. As the family moved around, Clare also enjoyed teaching high school English courses in Marion, IA, Waterloo, WI and Hinton, IA. In the 1970's, Clare became an English professor at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA. She retired from Briar Cliff in 1981 with many happy memories of teaching. After retirement, Clare and Walter moved to Jefferson, IA and spent several winters in Phoenix, AZ. Clare continued to pursue her love of reading, writing poetry and children's stories, sewing, and baking. She remained active in her church in Jefferson and often commented on how wonderful and supportive was her pastor, Fr. Don Ries, and how grateful she was for the many exceptional friends she had made in Jefferson. Clare was preceded in death by parents, John and Veronica Vessel; brothers John, Edward, William and Robert Vessel; her sister, Veronica and her husband, Walter, whom she terribly missed. She is survived by her sister, Evelyn Vessel; sons, Paul Klodd of Jefferson and David (Heidi) Klodd of Indianola; and two grandchildren, Tony, presently teaching in Nepal and Annie Klodd, Grinnell College student presently working at Kansas State. A funeral mass will take place 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Indianola with burial following in the I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 503 N. Chestnut St., Jefferson, IA, 50129. On-line condolences may be made to www.overtonfunerals.com.