Clara Toale

CLARA R. TOALE

Independence

Clara Ramona Toale, 96, of Independence, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at ABCM Rehabilitation Center's East Campus in Independence.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at St. John's Catholic Church, Independence, with Monsignor Thomas Toale presiding. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Independence. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence, and from 9:30 a.m. to service time Tuesday, Oct. 11, at St. John's Church. A parish wake service will be at 2:30 p.m., followed by a rosary on Monday at the funeral home.

Clara was born March 21, 1920, in Independence, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Marie (Claeys) DePaepe. After growing up and working on the family farm, she worked at E & H Cafe in Independence. She later moved to Des Moines, where she worked in the munitions plant during World War II, rooming with the only sister of the man who would become her future husband.

She married Francis Toale on April 28, 1947, in Independence, Iowa. He preceded her in death on Feb. 8, 2015, after nearly 68 years of marriage.

Clara was a lifelong homemaker on the family farm. She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Independence, served as communion distributor, usher couple, member of Catholic Order of Foresters, on numerous committees, and was a member of the Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters of America.

Community involvement included being a 4-H leader, hospice worker and volunteer at the gift shop at People's Memorial Hospital and VFW auxiliary.

She is survived by five children, Rosemary (Ron) Engelhardt of Elkader, Richard (Ann) Toale of Independence, Roger Toale of Arizona, Monsignor Thomas Toale of Dubuque and Sue (Tom) Knapp of Des Moines; and daughter-in-law, Marty (Don) Toale of Independence; 14 grandchildren; and 35 great- grandchildren. She also is survived by her sister, Margaret DeBacker; along with many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Francis, she was preceded in death by her son, Don (May 23, 2016); her parents, Edward and Marie; sisters, Alice Fall (Ed) and Laura Ladehoff (Henry); brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Eileen DePaepe; and brother-in-law, Marcel DeBacker.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Clara R. Toale Memorial Fund, c/o BankIowa, 231 First St. E, Independence, IA 50644 or Camp Courageous of Iowa.

To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffuneralhome.com under obituaries.