Obituary of Clara Mathilda Leigh

Clara M. Leigh, 101, of Dyersville, Iowa died Sunday, February 6, 2011, at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade, Iowa. Friends may call from 3-9 pm Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where a CD of A Rosary will be recited at 4 pm and a parish scripture service will be held at 5 pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, February 10, 2011, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with inurnment in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Dennis Quint with Deacon Fred Pins assisting. Clara was born on January 23, 1910, in New Vienna, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Hagemann) Oberbroeckling. She married Harry Leigh on September 17, 1934, in Dyersville, Iowa. He preceded her in death on August 1, 1971. Clara was one of the first women hired when the Ertl Company was founded and she considered those years among the best of her life. She loved to cook and play Rummy and Euchre. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court St. Rose. Survivors include her children: Merle (Denise) Leigh of Kaiser, MO, Bob (Grace) Leigh of Dyersville, Jim (Sharon) Leigh of Milford, IA, Carol (Jim) Harrod of Adamsville, TN, and Janet Orr of Dyersville, IA; 23 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren; several step grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harry, 2 sons, Thomas & Jerald Leigh, a grandson, Daniel Leigh, 6 siblings: Sylvia Biehl, Lorretta Lucas, Alice Kinister, Hilda Sweet, Gilbert and Leonard Oberbroeckling, and her best friend, Theresa Milbert. Memorials are preferred to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.