Clara Lizitta Thaemert, 92, of Salina, died Wednesday March 12, 2014, at Salina Presbyterian Manor. She was born April 8, 1921, on the family farm west of Sylvan Grove to Theodore and Emma (Arkebauer) Frederking.
Clara was joined in marriage on Jan. 16, 1949, to Lorenz Thaemert. They were lifetime residents of Sylvan Grove and members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
She worked for 31 years in the post office as a postal clerk, rural mail carrier and postmaster. She owned Pride of Kansas Wheat Weaving, was a member of LWML at her church and was also the altarflower chairman. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 359. She made hundreds of poppy sprays every Memorial Day to honor military personnel from all wars and sprinkled poppy seeds she grew on roadways throughout Lincoln County. Clara volunteered for the Sylvan SeniorCenter, delivering Meals on Wheels and leading exercise classes daily.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lorenz, on Jan. 28, 1985; son, Keith Thaemert, in 1973; five brothers, Harold, Edwin, Victor, Arnold and Delbert; and two sisters, Ella Endorf and Bernita Klausmeier.
Clara is survived by her daughter, Loreen Buccigrossi, the late Tony Buccigrossi, and their two daughters and families, Angela and Dustin Schafer and Michelle and Doug Neuschafer; four great-grandchildren, Quinten and Ellison Schafer and Harrison and Talia Neuschafer; brothers, Walter and Clemons, both of Salina, and Carl of Russellville, Ark.; and sister, Vera Benecke, of Aurora, Colo.
Clara leaves us an amazing legacy of kindness, caring, love and laughter. She greeted each day with a smile and a chance to relish the full experiences of a new day.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today, with family receiving friends from 6-8, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Salina. Burial will follow in the Sylvan Grove Cemetery, Sylvan Grove, at 1 p.m..
Memorials may be made to The Lutheran Hour Ministries or Trinity Lutheran Church, Salina.