The Life of CLARA E. TSURIS
Clara Tsuris
Clara Tsuris, 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 and Cremation Service are assisting the family with Clara's arrangements and care. Thoughts,
memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.
Surviving are her three daughters, Judi Dirks, Marion, Janet (John) Tiffany, Iowa City, and June (Michael) Hamer,
West Branch; six grandchildren, Matthew (Nice) Dirks, Whitney (Darren) Renville, Daniel (Angela) Dirks,
Michelle (Michael) Sexton, Paul Hamer and Corie (Tony) Williams; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Liam, Anthony,
Severiana, August, Caitlyn, Ethan, Brenna, Wyatt and Ginger; and two brothers, Ernie (Ann) Schatz, Cary, Ill., and
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 her siblings, Marie
Schatz, Wilfred, Willard, Robert and Vernon Schatz.
Clara Elizabeth Schatz was born April 2, 1919, in Monticello, Iowa. She was the daughter of Ernest and Grace
Behrends Schatz. Clara graduated from 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 Oskaloosa General Hospital, on Dec. 7, 1941, World War II started. Clara enlisted in the U.S. Army in
Clara Tsuris
April 1942. She was stationed at a hospital on the island of New Caledonia. There she met her husband-to-be Peter
Tsuris. The couple were married at the All Services Chapel on the 22nd day of November 1944 at Noumea, New
Caledonia. Clara returned to the states and received her honorable discharge on 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 preceded 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.
Posted on Tuesday, 7 February 2017 in The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.