Clarence Wiebenga

Clarence ‘Clancy’ Wiebenga, 72, longtime Thornton, Iowa, resident, passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa.  Funeral services were held on Saturday at the First Reformed Church, Meservey, Iowa, with Rev. Rodney Meester presiding.  Interment was in Pleasant View Cemetery, Thornton. 

Clarence ‘Clancy’ Jake Wiebenga was born July 28, 1941 in Yankton, S.D., son of Clarence and Hilda (Hento) Wiebenga.  He attended country school and graduated from Avon High School in 1959.  Clancy then attended and graduated from Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield, S.D.

In 1963 Mr. Wiebenga began teaching industrial technology at Thornton High School.  He liked Thornton and stayed in the school for 33 years teaching most of the time in Thornton.  He also taught building trades in Sheffield following consolidations of the schools.  Clancy also served as mayor of Thornton for several years.

On Sept. 3, 1965, Clancy was united in marriage with Mary DeVries at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thornton. They raised their two sons in Thornton, and he taught them his work ethic and techniques he had worked out over the years. His son, Greg, passed away in 1993 and Mary died in 1996.  On May 28, 2005, Clancy married Julie Zirbel in Clear Lake.

Clancy was always industrious.  While growing up he kept busy on the farm gladly doing less desirable jobs to keep busy.  While living and teaching in Thornton, he kept busy as a carpenter, building many homes in the area and remodeling many others.

An avid fisherman, Clancy had many fishing trips to South Dakota and Minnesota with friends and family. He loved kids and had patience in his teaching. A good natured man with great humor, he loved to laugh with his friends. Most will remember him with his red pickup truck.

Surviving family members are his wife, Julie, Clear Lake; son, Doug (Sara) Wiebenga, Cedar Rapids, and their sons, Landon and Colton; step-children, Cali (Spencer) Klooster, Garner, and their children, Jordan and Logan; Jesse (Sarah) Reimer, Aurora, Colo.; mother-in-law, Lena Peyton, Belmond; brother, David (Elaine) Wiebenga, Springfield, S.D.; sister, Shirley Wiebenga, Clear Lake; and brother, Robert (Joyce) Wiebenga, Springfield, S.D.

He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Mary; and son, Greg.

Retz Funeral Home, Thornton, was in charge of arrangements.