Note: portrait with 2nd obituary

1st obituary: Printed in the Sept. 10, 2002 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Clara E. Sperling, 99

Clara E. Sperling, 99, of Arlington, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, in the Fremont Area Medical Center in Fremont.

She was born June 15, 1903, in Scribner to John and Ida (Schumacher) Sommer. In 1912, Clara moved with her family to Seward and, in 1918, they moved to Stanton where she graduated from high school. She then attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

On June 8, 1932, she was married to Lawrence Belz. He preceded her in death on Dec. 12, 1933.

On June 12, 1960, she was married to Edgar Sperling in Topeka, Kan. They made their home in Arlington on the Sperling Turkey Farm. Edgar preceded her in death April 24, 1987.

Clara taught in Lutheran schools in Fremont, Altoona, Sioux City, Iowa, and Topeka as well as St. Paul’s Lutheran School north of Arlington until she retired in 1969. During her years in Topeka, she was employed by the Kansas State Treasury Department.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church north of Arlington and the church’s Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

In addition to her husbands, Clara was preceded in death by her parents, eight sisters, and a grandson, Brent Sperling.

Survivors include three stepsons, Howard Belz and his wife, Marian, of Anaheim, Calif., Donnie Sperling and his wife, Ardeth, of Arlington, and Milo Sperling and his wife, Maureen, of Seward; two stepdaughters, Nancy Drum and her husband, Bud, of League City, Texas, and Ardes Vance and her husband, Ray, of South Pasadena, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church north of Arlington. The Rev. Rick Kanoy will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

2nd obituary (no date or paper listed—this is the one that does have the portrait, and has a source-line Arlington, Nebraska)

#2 Clara Sperling

ARLINGTON—The funeral for Clara E. Sperling, 99, of Arlington will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, north of Arlington.

She died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002, at Fremont Area Medical Center.

Clara Sommer was born June 15, 1903, in Scribner. She moved with her family to Seward in 1912 and in 1918 they moved to Stanton where she graduated from high school. She then attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. She taught in Lutheran schools in Fremont, Sioux City, Iowa, Altona, and in Topeka. She taught for a total of 43 years, the last seven years at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, north of Arlington, retiring in 1969. During the summer, while teaching in Topeka, she was employed by the Kansas State Treasury Department. She married Lawrence Belz June 8, 1932. He preceded her in death Dec. 12, 1933.

She married Edgar Sperling June 12, 1960, in Topeka. They made their home in Arlington on the Sperling Turkey Farm. He preceded her in death April 24, 1987.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church north of Arlington and its Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

Survivors include: three stepsons: Howard (and wife, Marian) Belz of Anaheim, Calif.; Donnie (and wife, Ardeth) Sperling of Arlington and Milo (and wife, Maureen) Sperling of Seward; two stepdaughters: Nancy (Mrs. Bud) Drum of League City, Texas, and Ardes( Mrs. Ray) Vance of South Pasadena, Fla.; 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by eight sisters and a grandson.

The Rev. Rick Kanoy will officiate Friday’s service. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the St. Paul’s Building Fund and The Lutheran Hour.

#3 Funeral Leaflet

Clara E. Sperling

June 15, 1903 ~ September 8, 2002

Funeral Service 10:30 AM Friday, September 13, 2002 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, Nebraska. Officiating: The Rev. Rick Kanoy. Music: St. Paul’s Choir: “A Faithful Shepherd Is My Lord”. Congregational Hymns: #422 “What God Ordains Is Always Good”, “#192 “Behold a Host Arrayed In White”, #139 Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won”. Denise Buss, Organist.

Pallbearers: Bryan Drum, Dana Sperling, Susan Johnson, Leslie Hodges, Darin Sperling, Deneen Sperling.

Committal: St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Arlington, Nebraska

Ludvigsen Mortuary Fremont, Nebraska

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave memorial # 143864806