Clarence Stauffer

In Memory Of
Clarence Stauffer

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at Bellwood Mennonite Church with Pastor David Miller officiating. Burial prior to service at 10:00 a.m. at Blue Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from noon - 9pm with the family receiving relatives and friends from 7-9 pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford. No visitation prior to service at church. Memorials have been established to the Mennonite Central Committee or to the Thornridge Golf Course.

Clarence Stauffer was born April 21, 1913 on a farm west of Milford, Nebraska, the only son born to Henry and Sophia (Zimmerman) Stauffer, and passed away on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at Crestview Care Center in Milford at the age of 100 years, 3 months and 21 days. As a young boy he attended country school at Pilot Knob. He began his life-time farming with his father as a young lad, using horses and hand tools. Clarence was united in marriage to Viola Troyer on September 8, 1935 at her parent's home and to this union five children were born: Larry, Rosemary, Roger, Jon and Victor.

Together they made their home on the family farm west of Milford, taking over the full reins of operation when his father, Henry, retired. In 1953, a tornado totally devastated the farm and buildings. Clarence and Vi started from scratch again, and rebuilt the farmstead. Clarence had 100 years of memories, seeing the changes from horses to large combines, from dry-land farming to irrigation, from horse and buggy transportation to automobiles, from no in-door plumbing to everything at your fingertips, from no telephones, to party-lines (where everyone on the party line learned the news at the same time) to private phones, when everyone was satisfied with and appreciated what they had.

Clarence was a founder and charter member of Bellwood Mennonite Church where he was a faithful, hardworking member, serving as Elder and Song Leader for many years. He was on the original Board of Directors for Et-Cetera Thrift Shop in Seward. In his spare time he enjoyed golfing and woodworking, especially building grandfather clocks for family members, and also donating several items for the annual MCC auction.

Clarence always had a smile, and maybe a joke, bringing joy to those he was greeting. He had a generous and giving heart, taking care of and doing for others, even into his 90's - when he could still be seen mowing and taking care of lawns for his friends. In recent years, Clarence moved to Linden Village where he continued to enjoy friendships with neighbors, sharing memories of their younger days.

Clarence is survived by his children and spouses, Larry and Betty Stauffer, Lincoln, Rosemary and Ellis Martin, Milford, Roger and Claridy Stauffer, Lincoln, Jon and Karen Stauffer, Milford, Victor and Deborah Stauffer, Loveland, CO, 12 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, sister, Wilda Schrag, Moundridge, KS, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Verba Eicher, Milford, Louetta Brenneman, Tucson AZ, Ray and Yvonne Troyer, PA, Wayne and Doris Troyer, Colorado Springs, CO, many nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Viola in 1998, grandson, Clair Stauffer, in 1984, 2 sisters, Rose Weaver and Viola Oyer, 2 half-sisters, Alma Hershberger and Edna Ehrisman, 2 half-brothers, Irvin Roth and Vernon Roth.