Clara Emma Jones Wilkinson Peterson, age 75, of Fennimore passed away on Friday morning Nov. 16, 2018 at the U.W. Hospital in Madison. She was born on March 1, 1943 in Liberty Township, Grant Co., WI to Elwyn Carl Jones and Carolyn Delamae Waterman Jones Arms.
Clara married William Thomas Wilkinson on Oct. 21, 1962 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Cuba City. He passed away in a fishing accident on Lake Superior on Aug. 13, 1973. She then married Raymond Gene Peterson on Oct. 14, 1978 at the Hickory Grove Lutheran Church rural Boscobel.
She attended school at Kemper (rural Stitzer) for kindergarten, Annaton (rural Livingston) grades 1 through 8, Fennimore High School from 1957-1961. Clara then attended Milwaukee Accredited in Madison from 1961 to 1962 for Cosmetology, passed state boards for Operator and Manager in Beauty Salon and worked in Boscobel, Fennimore and Lancaster. Clara then attended Southwest Technical College working with computer and supervisor management. She worked at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, IA and after the death of her first husband, returned to Fennimore and worked at the Fennimore Good Samaritan Society and beauty salons in Fennimore. Clara managed Dorothy Shaw Salon for a few years. She also worked at City Foods grocery store and later Rayovac for 25 years. After retiring she went back to work at Bender Foods for 5 years.
Clara belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and held offices as President, Secretary, and Treasurer, IOOF Rebekah “Victoria Lodge” in Fennimore and served as Nobel Grand, Secretary, and Treasurer. Received 3rd degree in 1993 along with her mother Carolyn Arms and her sister Mina Fry. She was elected Assembly President of Wisconsin Rebekah’s in 2004-2005. It was a great honor for her to represent WI in May of 2005 along with Grand Master of Wisconsin, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown in Washington D.C. Clara joined the IOOF Mississippi Valley Lodge #86 in 2013 and received Grand Lodge Assembly degree in 2018. Clara also was a part of the Fennimore Memorial Park Committee from 2010 until its completion in 2016. Clara enjoyed playing cards, bowling, crocheting, and cheering on the Packers and Brewers. She also liked going for breakfast daily with family and friends and loved the company of her Red Hatter’s along with spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Clara is survived by children Marlene (Melvin) Jerrett of Fennimore, Tom (Deb) Wilkinson of Boscobel, step son Jym (Diane) of Montana, grandchildren; Jennifer Bloom Potts of Fennimore, James Bloom of New Lisbon, Lisa (friend Michael Barksdale) Jerrett of Fennimore, Spencer (Hailey) Wilkinson of Boscobel, Holden Wilkinson of Washington, and Brett (friend Brittany McCollough) Wilkinson of Fennimore, step grandchildren; J.C. (Tonya) Pagel of Blanchardville, Jennifer (Justin) Kasten of Milwaukee, Michael (Carah) Peterson of Patch Grove, Aaron “AJ” Peterson of Montana, Larry (fiancé Fallan Bell) Jerrett of Boscobel, Melvin ( fiancé Jamie Pagel) Jerrett of Muscoda, and Scott (Lateesha) Jerrett of Boscobel, 11 great grand children and 15 step great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, along with several in-laws; Carl Peterson of Fennimore, Roy (LaVon) Peterson of Sparta, Dagna Doan of Fennimore, Betty Burkeland of Fennimore, Joyce Peterson of Fennimore, Connie Peterson of Woodman and special friend Duane Gebhard of Boscobel.
Clara was preceded in death by her father Elwyn Jones, mother Carolyn Arms, step daughter Terri Dobler, step son Michael Peterson, first husband William Wilkinson, second husband Raymond Peterson, sister Mina Fry, brother-in-laws; Carl Fry, Robert, Earl, and Oscar Peterson, Bill Meyer, Jerry Doan, and Donald Burkeland, sister-in-laws; Alice Meyer, Shirley Peterson, Marge Peterson, step great grandchildren; Angelis Jerrett, Sophia Jerrett and Melvin “AJ” Jerrett.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday Nov. 24, 2018 at the Hickory Grove Lutheran Church rural Boscobel with burial to follow in the Homer Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 P.M. on Friday Nov. 23, 2018 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at the church on Saturday morning.