Alma C. Spilman

     Alma C. Spilman, 96, of Clear Lake died Friday, Aug. 23, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

     A burial will be held at 11:15 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013 at the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th Street, Clear Lake.

     Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Ventura Public Library, 7 Ventura Street, Ventura, IA  50482.

      Alma C. Spilman, daughter of Peter and Freida (Schonhorst) Fessler, was born Aug. 17, 1917 in Swaledale, Iowa.  Alma attended country school and graduated from Swaledale High School in 1934.  She continued her education at the Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, receiving her teaching certificate.  She began to teach country school in rural Swaledale before she met Orval “Fritz” Spilman at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.  They were united in marriage on Sept. 19, 1942 in Stark, Fla., and to this union, four children were born, Carolyn, Dennis, Connie, and Tom.  She continued teaching country school before Orval returned to North Iowa where he began farming. Her career as a teacher dissolved and she became a full time homemaker raising her children and taking care of the home.

     She was a beautiful seamstress, enjoyed decorating, and was an avid reader.  Most importantly, Alma put her family first.

     She is survived by her four children, Carolyn Loops, Iowa City, Iowa, Dennis (Margaret) Spilman, Clear Lake, Connie (Michael) Bowers, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, and Tom (Debbie) Spilman, Tooele, Utah; grandchildren, Dennis (Paula) Spilman, Garner, Iowa, Brad Spilman, Ventura, Jeremy (Trista) Loops, Phoenix, Ariz., and Adam (Natalie) Loops, Chicago, Ill.; and her great-grandchildren, Emily, Macey, and Bradey Spilman and Jackson and Alex Loops.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Orval; parents; and siblings, Ann Barlow, Lloyd Fessler, Harold (Hap) Fessler, and Verneice Pederson.

     Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.