Clara Tsuris April 2, 1919-Feb. 5, 2017

     Clara Tsuris, age 97, died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a brief illness.

     Funeral services, interment and military honors will be held at a later date. Goettsch Funeral Home and Gay Ciha Funeral Home are assisting the family with Clara’s arrangements and care. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

     Surviving are three daughters, Judi Dirks, Marion, Janet (John) Tiffany, Iowa City, June (Michael) Hamer, West Branch; five grandchildren, Matthew (Nice’) Dirks, Whitney (Darren) Renville, Daniel (Angela) Dirks, Michelle (Michael) Sexton, Paul Hamer, Corie (Tony) Williams; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Liam, Anthony, Severiana, August, Caitlyn, Ethan, Brenna, Wyatt and Ginger; and two brothers, Ernie (Ann) Schatz, Cary, Ill., Les (Audrey) Schatz, Myrtle Beach, S.C. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Peter; a son-in-law, Eldon Dirks; and siblings, Marie Schatz, Wilfred, Willard, Robert and Vernon Schatz. 

     Clara Elizabeth Schatz was born April 2, 1919 at Monticello, Iowa. She was the daughter of Ernest and Grace Behrends, Schatz. Clara graduated from the Monticello Community Schools in 1938. She continued her education at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. On her way to her first nursing position at the Oskaloosa General Hospital, on Dec. 7, 1941, WWII started. Clara enlisted in the United States Army in April of 1942. She was stationed at a hospital on the island of New Caledonia. There she met her husband to be Peter Tsuris. The couple was married at the All Services Chapel on the Nov. 22, 1944 at Noumea, New Caledonia. Clara returned to the states and received her Honorable Discharge in April 11, 1945. She returned to Monticello and lived there until Peter returned from service. The couple made their home in Pittsburgh and Clara worked as a nurse. Peter would precede Clara in death on Nov. 7, 1969. In order to be close to family, Clara moved to Coralville in 1984 and then to Monticello in 1990. She was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and the American Legion.