Clara B. Boone

Sheldon, Iowa

Clara B. Boone, 97, of Sheldon passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Prairie View Home in Sanborn. Her celebration of life will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at First Reformed Church in Sheldon with Pastor Paul Van Maaren, officiating.

A private family graveside will be held at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.

Visitation with family present will be from 1 to 1:45 P.M. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at First Reformed Church in Sheldon.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

Sympathy Cards may be sent to: Mary Ann Boes at 845 Kenneth St. St. Paul, MN 55116

Clara B. Boone

Clara Bernice Hector, daughter of Ben E. and Kate (Solsma) Hector was born on June 27, 1928 on the family farm in rural Ritter. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Sheldon High School in 1946. Clara worked part time at Hollander’s 5 & 10 Store while in high school. After graduation, Clara worked as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell, clerked at JCPenney for five years. Clara also trained to be a Ward secretary and worked for eleven years at the Sheldon Memorial Hospital and was the bookkeeper for her husband’s business, Boone’s Auto Repair.

Clara was united in marriage to Bernard “Bernie” H. Boone on September 5, 1947 at the First Reformed Church in Sheldon. They made their home in Sheldon and in October of 2008 they moved into the Sheldon Christian Retirement Home. Bernie died on April 22, 2014 after sixty six years of marriage.

Clara was a member of the church circle, a guild member, serving as secretary for both groups. Clara also sang in the church choir for many years. Clara was also very active in the Sheldon Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, where she served as secretary on the board.

Clara loved music, singing, playing the piano and playing card games. Clara made sure her children were involved in music at school and that all three took piano lessons. Clara also loved to camp with Bernie, riding bicycles with him and together they spent fourteen years wintering in Arizona. Clara was a member of the Red Hatters, several Bridge clubs and loved to beat her grandchildren at card games.

Left to cherish their mother’s memory are her two daughters, Barbara (Brent) Graves of Hartford, SD and Mary Ann Boes of St. Paul, MN and her friend Greg Schmitt of Zumbrota, MN; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Boone of Lincoln, NE; seven grandchildren, Amanda (Erik) Granse, Christine (Steven Carlson) Boone, Heather (Tristan) Johnson, Trent (Holly) Graves, Tasha Graves, Molly (Chris Ganza) Boes Ganza, and Morgan (Brian Manor) Boes; step-grandchildren, Erick Tieva and Kersten Schmitt; ten great-grandchildren, Isabella, Elaina and Adelaide Granse, Penelope, Hudson and Cooper Johnson, Michael and Charles Ganza, Lucy Boes-Manor and Merrick Graves and sister, Christena Van Driel of Fayetteville, AR.

Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard “Bernie” Boone; son, Jody “Joe” Boone; parents, Ben and Kate Hector; brother, Engel Ben Hector and his wife, Minnie; twin grandsons, Matthew and Michael Boes and brother-in-law Don Van Driel.