Obituary - Clara Jane Uhland, 95

June 20, 2003

Oldest daughter of William Ray and Ella Wilma Ives, Clara Jane (Ives) Uhland, was born May 17, 1908 in Fellsburg, Kansas. She departed this life at the age of 95 years on June 12, 2003 at Weisbrod Memorial Nursing Home in Eads.

When Clara was six years old William and Ella Ives made their way from Fellsburg, Kansas to Colorado and on May 16, 1916, they made their home on a farm east of Eads just one day short of Clara’s 8th birthday. Living in the Rush Creek Community Clara and her sister Lois would have to ride their horses to the nearest school, which made their mother, Ella, concerned for their safety during the adverse Kiowa County winters. So she decided to enroll her daughters in school at Lamar for one year, where the family had a house, and also in Colorado Springs, where they spent several summers in Green Mountain Falls, before returning to Eads where Clara graduated with the Class of 1926.

On April 12, 1925, Clara became a member of the United Methodist Church and that membership lasted 78 years, until her death in 2003.

During Clara’s teenage years she was smitten with a young baseball player, Ralph "Johnnie" Uhland, and he felt the same way about Clara. On June 3, 1927, the couple traveled to Wiley’s Methodist Church and were joined in marriage. Clara began her married life living with Johnnie’s family and doing everything she could to help with the Uhland family farm. Her chores were not limited as she did everything from butchering chickens and milking cows to driving a tractor. In 1930, Clara & Johnnie began their new job as parents. Within 15 years they were raising three sons and three daughters. The couple enjoyed every moment with their children despite all the obstacles life was throwing their way. They coped with farming in the dust bowl days and then were forced to accept that three of their children were stricken with polio, with two suffering bad enough to live the remainder of their lives in wheelchairs. With help from family and friends, the two were able to travel to various hospitals with their children and know that as they were taking care of their children; their farm was also in reliable hands.

Although the couple did retire from farming it never left Clara’s heart, as she was always concerned about the rain and whether or not a crop would be raised. Up until they could no longer drive, you could find them driving from field to field making their spot checks.

Clara enjoyed her grandchildren and kept up with their activities. During her later years when she was unable to get out much, she loved to have them stop by for a quick visit. The stories she told of her lifetime will always be precious memories to those she left behind. Although Clara’s health was failing she was able to live on the family farm and was with Johnnie on their 76th wedding anniversary. She was taken to Weisbrod on June 6th and departed this life June 12, 2003.

During Clara’s lifetime she had to bear the loss of a brother, Billy Ray, who died in infancy, in 1917; her sisters, Lois Sutton, in 2001, and Dorris Hartman, in 2002; two sons, Ralph LaVerne, in 1993, and Gerald "Jerry" Lee, in 1972; and one daughter, Shirley Kay Riley, in 1998.

Clara will be sadly missed by her husband of 76 years of the family home and her children, Keith (Barbara) Uhland, Karen (Larry) Watts, Judy (D.L.) Weeks all from Eads, a brother and sister-in-law, Ken (Lorna) Ives from Rodgers, Arkansas, and a brother-in-law, Bill Hartman from Harrisonville, Pennslvania. Also 19 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, 14 step-great grandchildren, 3 great, great grandchildren and 2 step-great, great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held at the Methodist Church in Eads with Pastors Gary and DeEtta Goettel officiating the services and burial at the Cemetery in Eads. Charlotte Woelk was the pianist and Talara Coen was the vocalist with musical selections "Amazing Grace" and "Sweet By and By." Members of the Methodist Church provided a meal for the family to gather and enjoy memories together.

In memory of Clara contributions can be made to Kiowa County Home Health Care. Arrangements were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home