Friday, May 3, 2024
Thelma Joanne Clingerman always known as T. J. went to be with the Lord on July 2, 2023. Funeral services were held 10 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at the First Baptist Church under the direction of Foss Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
T. J. was born on March 14, 1942, at a nurses home in Grundy Center, Iowa to the late Albert and Alyce Flater. She was raised in Grundy Center and was a graduate of Grundy Center High School in 1960. In 1962, she met and fell in love with her lifetime partner LaVerne E. Clingerman. They were married on March 10, 1962, at the Little Brown Church. This partnership would form a family that included the children of Marcia, Melinda, Monte, and Murry. As a family, they lived in Valley Mills. T.J. worked for many years at Dale Electronics in Norfolk, Nebraska as well as selling Avon for over 25 years in Nebraska and Texas. In 2001, T.J. and LaVerne would move to Valley Mills. In Valley Mills she remained active in selling Avon and became one of the town’s main babysitters. She averaged watching 5 children a day until she was in her 70’s. She served time as a substitute teacher at the Valley Mills School and was a daycare provider at the elementary school. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her Church family and all the children of Valley Mills.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Alyce Flater, her husband LaVerne E Clingerman and two sons-in-law, Michael Brown and Tracey Woodlock.
T.J. enjoyed volunteering at the food pantry and helping the Valley Mills Volunteer Fire Department. She was a very big Dallas Cowboys and Baylor Bears football fan. Her favorite trip is when she went overseas for a month to Berlin, Germany
She is survived by her sister, Betty Venenga. Four children, Marcia Woodlock from Valley Mills, Melinda from Valley Mills, Monte from Pennsylvania and Murry from Coleman; grandson, Quentin Clingerman, granddaughter, Cassie Woodlock Perez and husband Ruben; great-grandchildren, Roman and Brooke Perez from Gatesville. Many chosen children: son, Dallas Becker and wife, Dawn, of Berlin, Germany; three grandchildren from the Netherlands, Jacob, Kater and Jack Becker; two aunts of Grundy Center, Iowa, Lena DeLange and Marylyne DeLange; Jill Thomas from Gatesville, Angelia Boettcher and husband, Kris, along with their children, Chance, Hannah, Zack and Katlyn (KK) and Cindy Campbell.
A very big Thank You to Goodall-Witcher Nursing Home staff and Sunset Hospice Nursing staff for the excellent care they provided for T.J. They always treated her and her family as family.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Valley Mills Volunteer Fire Department.
