Clara M. Pierce, 87, of Lytton, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at Loring Hospital in Sac City.
    
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, January 24th, at Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church in Lytton with Pastor Wayne Pfannkuch officiating.  Burial will be at the St. John’s Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City.
    
Visitation is from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home in Sac City.
    
Clara was born on February 16, 1920, to August and Matilda (Schultz) Holtorf, on the family farm near Pomeroy, Iowa.  She attended Pomeroy Country School through the eighth grade.  On November 16, 1941, Clara was united in marriage to Donald Maynard Pierce at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pomeroy.  This union was blessed with four children: Linda, Larry, Connie, and Dale.  Clara was a member of Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church in Lytton.
    
Clara was a loving wife and devoted mother whose family was always her top priority.  She worked at Loring Hospital in the dietary department for many years.  Clara loved to bake and many times she would have her baking done by 4:30 in the morning.  Don and Clara loved to dance and have a good time.  They had many family gatherings and loved watching family and friends enjoy being together.  She especially enjoyed sharing time with her sister, Viola Larson.  Her children will cherish their memories of growing up on the farm, having a large garden, canning, and the Larson-Pierce Sweet Corn Days!  Clara was able to make tie blankets for her children, grand and great-grandchildren, and sister for Christmas, 2007.  They will truly cherish these gifts.
    
Those thankful for having shared in Clara’s life include her children: Linda Ilsley and husband Roger of Clemmons, NC; Larry Pierce and wife Chris of Lytton, IA; Connie Curnyn and husband Dan of Denison, IA; and Dale Pierce and wife Bonnie of Manson, IA; six grandchildren: Shannon Ilsley, Tara Ilsley, Kelly Jean Knudson, Barb Richards, Kari Siegner and Ben Richards; seven step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; several step great-grandchildren; sister Viola Larson of Spencer, IA; many extended family members and friends; and her pet dog Smokey.  She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.
    
Clara was preceded in death by her parents; husband Don on December 17, 1998; sisters: Nette Holtorf and Freda Peters; and brothers: Eric, Carsey, Charlie, Julius, and Lewis.