Clara Ebner

Clara E. Ebner, 91, of rural Lansing, IA, died Thursday, October 4, 2018, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, IA. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, November 10th, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Farm Bureau building in Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Clara Estelle Ebner was born December 4, 1926, in Huntsville, AL, the daughter of Clarence and Elizabeth (Durham) Brewer. She was baptized and confirmed in the Baptist church and grew up in the cotton mill village of Twickenham in Huntsville. While in school, Clara worked for a drug store and its soda fountain. After graduating from high school, she moved to Anderson, Indiana to work in the Trobridge Grocery bakery department while living with relatives. She then moved to Caledonia, Minnesota, to live with her sister Virginia. While living in Caledonia, Clara worked for Doctor Alfs as a receptionist and assistant. During this time, Clara met Lewis W.J. Ebner and the couple married on June 4, 1952, at French Creek United Methodist Church in rural Lansing, Iowa. The couple farmed on the Ebner family farm in rural Lansing, where Clara was an active farmwife. Besides cooking meals for her family and the farmhands, she also helped with the dairy cows, haying, and cared for a large flock of egg layers. The profits from selling her eggs often contributed to purchasing Christmas presents for the children.

Her vegetable garden was her sanctuary. Clara enjoyed spending time weeding the vegetable rows. In addition, she also loved to bake; she was known for her breads, coffee cakes, and pies. Clara loved her sweets, especially chocolate. As an avid reader, her favorite types of books were mysteries. She liked to travel and took several trips to Door County, Wisconsin, Alabama, Colorado, and Montana. Clara always appreciated the help she received from her neighbors, especially Marilyn Larson; she valued the time they spent visiting with her.

She is survived by her three children: Paul (Wendy) Ebner of rural Lansing, Walter (Jane) Ebner of Bloomington, MN, and Carol (Lance) Thompson of Lake Mills, IA; two grandchildren: Jacob Ebner and Lily Thompson; her brother Jerry (Dorothy) Brewer of Owens Cross Roads, AL; sister-in-law LeOtia Flage of Waukon; and her nieces and nephews.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lewis in 2015; an infant sister Mildred Brewer; two sisters: Virginia Muenkel and Iona Brewer; three brothers-in-law: Hugo Muenkel, Kenneth Flage, and Ralph McKee; and sister-in-law Johanna (Ralph) McKee.