White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Clarice Jeanette (Christiansen) Wilson, 93, of Red Wing, MN and previously of Independence, Iowa, passed away December 9, 2018, into her Savior’s arms.

Clarice “Jeannie” Wilson was born August 18, 1925 in Independence, Iowa, to William Clarence Christiansen and Gladys Marsha (Cowell) Christiansen.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and one son, Jerry Warren Wilson.

She is survived by the love of her life, her husband, Warren Harding Wilson, and children, Patricia (Jim) Pagel of Wabasha, MN,  David (Dawn) Wilson of Peoria, AZ, Pamela (Rick) Culbertson of Des Moines, IA, Sandra Miller Wilson (daughter-in-law) of Covington, LA,  one sister, Thomasine Gissel of Independence, Iowa, nine grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Jeannie graduated from Independence High School. She married Warren Harding Wilson November 15, 1942, in Independence, Iowa right before he went off to serve in the 13th Armored Division in WW II.

Jeannie grew up and was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Independence, Iowa, where she & Warren and their children were members. Her favorite hymn was 
“How Great Thou Art”.

Jeannie worked for the Independence Bulletin Journal and Conservative for many years as a linotype operator, and later for her best friend, Esther Brockling, who owned the Winthrop News.

Jeannie will be sorely missed, and remembered with fondness, for her sense of adventure, her sewing skills, love of reading which she passed down to her children and grandchildren, and the love she had for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Through the years, she sewed many clothes and pajamas for them, as well as beloved stuffed animals and baby blankets.

Family time through the years was filled with picnics, and camping (for which she sewed sleeping bags out of sheets, drapes and blankets). Every summer included a two week family camping vacation traveling around the United States. After they retired, Warren and Jeannie enjoyed traveling to visit their kids and their families in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Arizona. They also spent a summer manning a fire tower atop Kenneday Peak in the Medicine Bow National Forest. All their family made the trip to camp at the foot of the mountain and visit them at the fire tower.

She and Warren were great dancers and enjoyed it through the years. Music was a big part of their lives, including Warren’s guitar and harmonica playing. She loved listening to him sing and play the guitar. For their 50th wedding anniversary he wrote a love song for her that he continued to sing to her through the years. Last month they celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary on November 15th. 

Grandchildren always knew Grandma’s house meant unlimited fudgesicles, layer jello, homemade vegetable beef soup, rhubarb pie and homemade applesauce,
along with plenty of game playing and cards, including dominoes and cribbage, and yard games of jarts, horseshoes, volleyball, and croquet.

She loved trains, cats, Snoopy, pandas,  giraffes, the color purple, and especially summer family reunions. For many years she mailed all her kids, her sister and her kids, a newsletter with family news to help keep everyone connected. She would use her old typewriter and a ton of carbons to complete the weekly newsletters!

Jeannie never met a stranger. Family joked that whenever she got on an elevator, by the time it reached her destination, she knew all the life stories of everyone she rode it with! And by now, we figure she knows the life story of everyone up in Heaven, because that’s just how she rolls!

A Celebration of Life will be held next summer.