Clay Sueverkruebbe

Rock Rapids, IA Clay Sueverkruebbe age 85 of Rock Rapids, IA died Friday April 16, 2010 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 20th at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Mark Hansen officiating. Burial will follow at Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Alvord, IA. Visitation will be Monday, April 19th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Clay Timothy Sueverkruebbe was born April 8, 1925 in Alvord, IA to Herman and Ella (Mundt) Sueverkruebbe. He was raised and received his education in Alvord. In 1944 he entered the United States Army and was sent to fight in the European Battle Theater as an infantryman. Clay was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge as the Allies suppressed the attempted German advance. With over 800,000 men committed and over 19,000 Americans killed, The Battle of the Bulge was the single largest and bloodiest battle that American forces experienced in World War II. Clay has always been very proud of his service in WWII and throughout the years has shared many wonderful reunions with the men he fought side by side with in this horrific experience. Upon recovering from his wounds, Clay was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1946 and returned to America and Lyon County to begin his career as a farmer at which he spent 24 ½ years. On October 23, 1949 Clay was united in marriage to his love Gloria Schemmel at the Christ Lutheran Church in Alvord. To this union one daughter was born and they named her Cheryl. Together, Gloria and Cheryl will hold many fond memories of their time together on the farm. In 1976, Clay retired from farming and moved to Rock Rapids. In the following years he worked for Lyon County. Among other duties, Clay drove snow plow, gravel truck and mowed for the county. Clay and Gloria loved to visit, especially Clays brothers and sisters, as well as old army buddies. Their travels took them many places, from just into Canada to many of the United States for wonderful reunions with family and Army friends. Clay also loved to fish and spent many hours with his wife, daughter and others in search of the big one. He was also a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, the VFW and American Legion of Lester, IA and the Alvord Gun Club. Due to failing health, Clay entered the Veterans Hospital in April of 09 and in November of 09 he was admitted to Lyon Manor in Rock Rapids. This past Friday, Clay died at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 85. He will be missed by many. Clay is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Sueverkruebbe of Rock Rapids; daughter, Cheryl (William) Chamberlin of Brooklyn Center, MN; 2 grandchildren, Gregory (Cassie) Chamberlin and Angela Chamberlin; brother, Robert (June) Sueverkruebbe of Highland, IL; sisters, Esther Horn of Hastings, NE and Gloria Hall of Des Moine, IA; and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Ella Sueverkruebbe; sisters, Helen Carsten and Leona Everly; brothers, Ray Sueverkruebbe, Lloyd Sueverkruebbe and Herman Sueverkruebbe.