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Photo of Irma (Evans) Tomke

Irma (Evans) Tomke

5/8/1920 - 9/26/2004


Obituary


Irma Tomke, 84, of Clarion, Iowa, passed away Sunday, September  26, 2004, at her home in Clarion.

Funeral services for Irma Tomke will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday September 29, 2004, at the Clarion Church of Christ, with Rev. Tim Platt officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery in Clarion.

Friends may greet the family from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Tuesday September 28, 2004, at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion, Iowa.

Irma was born on April 8, 1920 on a farm in Franklin County to William J. and Margaret (DeReus) Evans. The family moved to Clarion in 1928. Irma graduated from Clarion High School in 1937. She worked as a secretary for attorney’s Nagle and Hill after graduation. She then attended 48th General Assembly of the Legislature in Des Moines with Senator Hill, staying in Des Moines and working at the State Capitol until joining the Navy in 1943. Irma served 3 ½ years in New York and Washington D.C.

Irma returned to Clarion and married Joseph R. Tomke on February 5, 1948. To this union, a daughter, Cheryl, was born in 1949. Joe and Irma owned and operated a Drug and Gift Store until Joe retired in 1982. Joe passed away in 1984.

Irma was a member of the Church of Christ, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Clarion Arts Council. She was a member of the Clarmond Country Club for over 50 years and the Belmond Country Club for the past few years. Her passion was playing bridge.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Cheri, of Clarion; two sisters, Mary Arvizu, and Wilma Rude, both of Des Moines; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents; her husband Joe; one brother, Clif Evans and one sister, Ione Kee.