Jane Clemsen

Mary Jane Clemsen, (Jane) 92, of Clarion, passed away and went to heaven to be with her Lord Jesus on July 1, 2022, at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge.

Funeral services for Jane Clemsen will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Celebration Center in Friendship Haven, 420 Kenyon Road in Fort Dodge. 

Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM on Thursday prior to the funeral service at the Celebration Center.

Mary Jane Porch was born March 2, 1930, in Anita, Iowa to Glen and Gladys (Smith) Porch of rural Anita. She graduated from Anita High School at age 17 and went to work in Atlantic, Iowa, where she met husband, Lyle Clemsen, and on October 17, 1948, they were married at the Baptist Church in Atlantic, Iowa. They made homes in Webster City Iowa and Clarion, Iowa.  To this union three children were born: Kristin, Brent and Lance.

Jane was bookkeeper for Lyle at their retail shoes store, “Lyle’s Shoes”, for many years, doing bookkeeping and waiting on customers.  She also loved her job as secretary at Clarion Elementary School for several decades.

Jane was an active member of the Church of Christ in Clarion, where she sang in the choir, taught VBS, and was on the missions board. She was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Webster City as an adult. She spent much time in service for the Lord and was involved with Christian Women’s Club and led a small group Bible study.   One of her highlights was singing in the choir at the Billy Graham crusade in Minneapolis.

Jane loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren and hosted many friends and family in their home in Clarion. She was a great cook and provided many wonderful holiday memories for all her family.

Jane was a competitive Aggravation player, bridge player and liked to golf with friends and Lyle. Wheel of Fortune and Lawrence Welk were “must-sees”.  She also was an avid fan of  the Gaithers!

Preceding Jane in death were her parents and step- mother Esther Porch, husband Lyle in 2014, brothers Don Michael, Norman Porch and Kent Stockham, sisters Patty Stockham, Peggy Robinson and Carol Andersen, brothers in law, Nolan Stockham, Doc Hartkopf, and Howard Andersen, brothers and sisters- in- law, Virgil and Violet Clemsen, Glen Clemsen, LaVonne and Leroy Glissman, and great granddaughter, Eve Hellenga.

Jane is survived by her daughter Kristin (Chip) Doolittle of Twin Lakes, Brent Clemsen, (Jan) of Maple Valley, Washington, and Lance Clemsen (Nancy) of Solon, Iowa.  Grandchildren are Zach (Jenny) Mitchell, Elizabeth (Nathan) Hellenga, Josie (Tim) Jones, Katie (Buddy) Wood, Leah (Jared) Keeney, Jordan Clemsen and Maren Clemsen, along with 12.5 great- grandchildren and sister in law, Rose Clemsen of Exira.