Claire Charlotte Palmer, the daughter of Ted and Lucille (Warner) Harris, was born January 27, 1936 in Avoca, IA. Claire died March 25, 2025 at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA, at the age of 89 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
Claire attended school in Avoca, graduating in 1953. She met her husband Darrell at the Harlan roller rink and was later united in marriage on October 8, 1955. They built their home and raised their three children on an acreage east of Oakland. They loved to polka dance at the Avoca and Minden Dance Halls, travel with the “Oakland Hat Dancers” and belonged to a pinochle card club. Claire worked various clerical jobs in the area along with mowing and keeping the books for the Oaklawn Cemetery. She worked at the Oakland Pharmacy, retiring after 29 years in 2020, at the age of 84.
Claire was happiest when surrounded by her family and close friends, and loved hosting celebrations. She was known to have quite the sweet tooth and always had a cookie tray prepared for guests. She loved jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, Wordle, and winning at bingo! Claire had a special talent for repurposing old clothes and various fabrics into beautiful and useful loom-woven rugs, which she learned from her mother. Her creations were sold at craft fairs and gifted to friends and family. The grandkids fondly remember summer days riding in the red wooden wagon around the farm, playing wiffle ball, riding bikes, and swinging in the shade. In her later years, Claire was always present at her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events, dance recitals, vocal and band concerts, and academic ceremonies. She was a longtime member of the Oakland United Methodist Church.
Claire is preceded in death by her husband, Darrell, her parents, her siblings, Janice Nielsen, Donnie Harris, Jane Jacobsen, and son-in-law, Dean Hildebrand.
Claire is survived by her children, ReAnn Hildebrand of Oakland, IA, Gayle Palmer and wife Karyl of Dallas Center, IA, and Dana Palmer and wife Tami of Oakland, IA; grandchildren Ryan Hildebrand, Anna (Eric) Ruppelt, Jared and Bryce Palmer, Alyssa (Chris) Hamilton and Katelyn (Trent) Strouf; great grandchildren Ainslee and Tenslee Hamilton and Maverick and Navy Strouf. Also left to cherish her memory is her brother Lynn (Jan) Harris of Omaha, NE and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 4, 2025 at the Oakland United Methodist Church from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be at the Oakland United Methodist Church on April 5, 2025 at 2 PM with a luncheon to follow. A private family burial will be held at the Oaklawn Cemetery. A memorial fund is being established in Claire’s name. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family.
