Clarissa Anita Pohlmann

Clarissa Anita Pohlmann was born June 8, 1919 to Henry and Sena (Conradi) Schoenrock. She passed away on June 15, 2020, at 101 years old. She was the oldest of three daughters raised on a farm five miles west of Fairbury. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ near Gladstone. She attended grade school at District 100 and graduated in 1937 from Fairbury High School.

After graduation, she did a variety of jobs, including butter wrapper at the Farmers Union Creamery, where she met Alvin Pohlmann. Al was drafted in 1941 and while on leave in the summer of 1942 they became engaged. That Christmas, Clarissa went to visit Al in Ocala, Florida, and they got married on Christmas Day. She came back to Fairbury to work while Al was transferred to a base in Georgia. Eventually she joined him as he transferred from Georgia to New York to Texas. Al was discharged in 1945 and they moved to Deshler. In 1951 they purchased a general (dime) store in Deshler and ran it until 1957. They moved to her parent’s farm where Al farmed and Clarissa worked at the ASCS (now Farm Service Agency) and then the Fairbury Clinic until she retired. In 1991, after both retiring, they bought a house in Fairbury.

Clarissa and Al were both active in church and it was a big part of their lives.  They enjoyed traveling and taking tours; going to Colorado and through the Southwest, the Northeast, and the Northwest. They went to many army reunions throughout the Midwest. Clarissa enjoyed gardening and was involved in many activities including LWML Circle, Friendly Thursday Club, Sugar & Spice Club and getting together with friends, especially after church.

Alvin passed away in 2000 and after staying in the house for a few years, Clarissa moved into a 4-plex. She continued to be involved with her organizations until a health scare in 2015 necessitated her moving into Gardenside Long-Term Care facility.  While there Clarissa enjoyed the activities offered, especially the bell choir, which performed around the 4th of July and at Christmas.

Clarissa is survived by her sister, Shirley Jean Schoen and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; parents; parents-in-law; sister, Lillian Molden; brothers-in-law, Robert Molden, Norris Schoen, Edward Pohlmann, Herman & Ruth Pohlmann, Otto & Elsie Pohlmann; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Pohlmann, Marie Pohlmann, Edna Oehlsen.

Funeral service will be June 19, 2020, at 1:30 at Grace Lutheran Church, Fairbury. Burial at the Fairbury Cemetery following the service. Public viewing will be held June 18, 2020 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Gerdes Meyer Funeral home. Memorials to the Orphan Grain Train and Jefferson Community Health & Life.