Vonda Clare, 94

Vonda Caroline (Sass) Clare, age 94, of Hastings, formerly of Cannon Falls, passed away Sept. 15 at Regina Medical Center.

She was born Dec. 23, 1917, in Wabasha County, Minn., to Louis and Caroline (Moechnig) Sass. She was raised on the family farm and attended country schools and Wabasha and Rochester high schools. During these younger years, Vonda worked a variety of jobs and even played piano in a dance band with her brothers to help raise money for the family during the Great Depression.

On March 2, 1935, Vonda married Asa Clare and settled into a life of homemaking and motherhood, residing in the Lake City, Minn., area. She and Asa later moved the family to Cannon Falls, and in later years, Vonda worked outside the home at Kid Duds Manufacturing in Cannon Falls and as a cook at the former Cannon Manor Nursing Home. Vonda was a longtime member of First English Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls where she served in the Women's Circle. She also volunteered for many years at the local food shelf.

Vonda was preceded in death by her husband, Asa; grandson Nicholas Clare; siblings, Verna Polyard, Della Johnson, Louis Sass, Emery Sass, Harry Sass, and Ervin Sass.

Vonda will be greatly missed by her children, Jean (Jim) Flakne of Cannon Falls, Minn., Kenneth (Georgia) Clare of Kansas City, Mo., David (Charlene) Clare of Durand, Wis., Gerald (Susan) Clare of Afton, Minn., Ronald (Marie) Clare of Hastings, Richard (Rita) Clare of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Linda (Kenneth) Rapp of Stone Lake, Wis., Gail (James) Kronmiller of Chanhassen, Minn., Karen (William) Wambach of Kansas City, Mo., Pamela (Craig) Johnson of Hastings, and Cheryl (Robert) Harty of Peoria, Ariz. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and her siblings Dolores (Don) Florine, Dorothy McLaughlin, and Calvin Sass.

Funeral service will be held at First English Lutheran Church, 511 Belle St., Cannon Falls, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, with Reverend Phillip Ruud officiating. The service will be preceded by a visitation from 9:30-11 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Cannon Falls Cemetery.

Wise Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.wisefamilyfh.com to sign the online guestbook and view the memorial video tribute.

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