Clara Lucille Wellik

Clara Lucille Wellik, 87, of Duluth, Minn., passed away peacefully on Oct. 21, 2016 at the Essentia Health Care Center. A funeral mass for Clara Wellik will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City.

A gathering of family and friends will take place one hour before the service at the church on Saturday.

Clara Lucille Bauer was born to R.C. (Rudolph) and Clara (Uhlenhake) Bauer on Aug. 19, 1929, in the tiny farming community of Wesley, Iowa. Shortly after leaving high school, she met George William Wellik of Duncan, Iowa at a local dance. The two were married in Wesley on Nov. 20, 1947 until his death in 1999.

The couple had 11 children and began raising them in the Whittemore area before making their permanent homestead in Charles City in 1965. While in Charles City, Clara was employed at Starr Home. In 2011 she moved to Duluth, Minn. to be closer to family.

Clara was a loving and devoted mother, who tirelessly raised her children while being active in both the community and the church. The family home was the epicenter of holidays and celebrations, with family and friends brought together as much by her expert baking as her caring demeanor.

Those who came in contact with Clara remember her kindness, quick wit and even-keel temperament. But Clara also remembered so many others that came through her life by sending personalized cards on loved one’s birthdays, anniversaries or special days. Her enjoyment in collecting recipe books and decorative plates was only overshadowed by her desire to pass along these mementos to her children and grandchildren.

Clara was devoted to the Catholic Church, attending Immaculate Conception in Charles City, and served her community proudly through the American Legion Auxiliary, Navy Mothers and the Lady’s Guild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband George; daughter Patricia; brothers John and Ralph; sisters Bernadette Pfeffer and Ruth Mary Meyers; and daughter-in-law Tammy Wellik.

Clara is survived by her children: Stephen (Rhonda) Wellik of Mt. Pleasant, Mary (John) Crouse of Spring Hill, Fla., Neal (Roberta) Wellik of Duluth, Minn., Mark (Vicky) Wellik of Fort Lawn, S.C., Jacinta “Cindy” Wellik of Ozone Park, N.Y., Phyllis (Michael) McInerney of Nantucket, Mass., Natalie Wellik of Cheney, Wash., Justin (Vickie) Wellik of Cedar Rapids, Sidney (Jane) Wellik of Wellington, New Zealand and Dominic (Janet) Wellik of Cedar Rapids; sister Marlene Liermann; brother Bill (Sally) Bauer; sister-in-law Mary Wille; as well as 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the St. James Catholic School Window Fund in Duluth, Minn. The family would like to establish a window in her honor in the second grade classroom at the school.

Hauser Funeral Home, 641-228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.

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