Clara Wittren will celebrate her 100th birthday on Tuesday September 24, 2002, with a card shower. She was born September 18, 1902, in Grundy Center, to Martin and Imka Vanderlan. After her mother died, she was adopted by Charlie and Trena Weisbard, who renamed her Clara Grace and celebrated her birthday on September 24. After Charlie died in 1906, her mother remarried Clifford Johnson and she went by Clara Johnson. In November 1920, she married Orion Luck. He died in 1944. They farmed near New Hartford, and she worked as a telephone operator in New Hartford and Grundy Center, and as a housekeeper at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1955, she married Art Wittren. He died in 1979. She moved to the Western Home in 1999. Clara is a member of Anchor Rebekah Lodge New Hartford 46, the Legion Auxiliary, and the United Methodist Church. Her family includes her daughter, Marveleen Eiklenborg of Aplington; two stepsons, Richard Wittren of Cedar Falls and Robert Wittren of San Leandro, California; and a stepdaughter, Betty Mendes of Junction City; Oregon. A son, Eugene Luck, and a stepdaughter, Patsy Miller, are deceased. She has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Cards may be sent to her at the Western Home, 420 E. 11th Street, Cedar Falls 50613.
Copyright Waterloo Courier, September 22, 2002, Celebrations section, page 6.