Clara J. Vrooman

Clara J. Vrooman

March 2, 1926 - April 7, 2014

ATKINSON, Nebraska -- Clara J. Vrooman, 88, passed away April 7, 2014.

She was born on March 2, 1926, to Karl and Theresa (Kollman) Deermer, along with her twin brother Henry. Clara and Henry were the sixth and seventh children of the eight children in the family.

Clara grew up in the Stuart and Atkinson areas. She graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1944. She worked three and half years doing secretarial work in Marty, South Dakota. She then moved back to Atkinson and worked at the First National Bank.

On May 10, 1950, Clara married the love of her life, R. Harold Vrooman. They lived on the Vrooman ranch until their retirement from the ranch in 2000 and moved to town in Atkinson. Born to this union were 8 children. Their daughters Frances and Shirley died in infancy.

While on the ranch Clara raised a big garden, canned lots of fruits and vegetables, sewed clothes for the family, cooked for the hayfield crew and cared for her family. She was very proud about always having fresh baked goodies for her children when they came home from school.

After moving to town, Clara, who was one of the original "Rosary Ladies," enjoyed attending daily mass and weekly adoration. She continued canning vegetables and made many, many rugs. She kept busy mending clothes and loved playing canasta. She continued to enjoy baking and having cookies ready for her children and grandchildren that visited.

In January 2012, Clara moved into Parkside Manor's Assisted Living in Stuart. There Clara continued her hobbies of making rugs, putting together puzzles, and playing cards. Clara also enjoyed the Red Hat Society and the Catholic Ladies Guild.

Clara is survived by her children, Tom and his wife, Donna of McCook, Mary and her husband, Mike Kaup of Stuart, Jim and his wife, Terri of Atkinson, Kay and her husband, Terry Yocum of Kansas City, Missouri, Karen and her husband, Dan Myers of Stuart, and Rose of McCook; 20 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; infant daughters, Frances and Shirley; her 5 brothers, Charles, Joe, Paul, Henry, and Fred and her two sisters, Johanna and Sister Rose.

Services are Saturday, April 12, 2014, 10:30 a.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Atkinson. Burial is at St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery in Atkinson.

Visitation is Friday April 11, 2014, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson. Altar Society Rosary is at 4 p.m. and public Rosary is at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Seger Funeral Home of Atkinson is in charge of arrangements.