1933
Claran
2024
Claran Ramsdell
May 31, 1933 — July 4, 2024
Claran was born to Dr. Bruce and Emma (Dietz) Rademacher on May 31, 1933, in Le Center, Minnesota. Her name was originally Clara Ann, but following the suggestion of her uncle Ralph, it was changed to Claran.
Claran grew up in a small rural community “a block from school and a block from church”, and her early years revolved around family, friends, church, and school. During elementary school, Claran developed close friendships with a group of girls who remained best friends throughout their lives. The “ Girls from Le Center ” continued to get together two or three times a year to reconnect and, as time went by, to support each other through life’s ups and downs.
Claran married Harry James “ Jim” Ramsdell on November 29 th , 1952, at St. Paul ’ s Episcopal Church in Le Center and the couple moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Jim was stationed during the Korean conflict. After leaving Hawaii, the couple called numerous communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin home while Jim taught music and later became a school superintendent. During these years, Claran was a homemaker caring for their three children, however, she found time to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities. Claran began her career as a special education teacher in 1979 at Lake Holcomb and retired from the Fall Creek School District in 1993. Claran loved her work with elementary children and felt a sense of pride in helping a child learn to read, write or overcome a learning challenge.
Claran found beauty in the natural world, and she could often be found tending the plants in her garden. She loved collecting interesting blossoms, leaves, branches and seed pods and would turn them into beautiful floral arrangements , potpourri, and wreathes. She was interested in growing perennials and studying landscape design and she readily gifted plants from her gardens to friends and family members. She also shared this passion with visitors to the First Presbyterian Church who enjoy the peace of the meditation garden she helped design and maintain.
Claran was an active member of the Chippewa Falls Lake Wissota Garden Club and participated in garden tours, flower shows and club service projects. Her favorite project was creating holiday ornaments and arrangements to decorate the Cook Rutledge Mansion for Christmas.
Claran was always learning whether it was brushing up on her bridge skills or making the perfect pie crust. In her later years she attended technology classes, ran a successful E-Bay store, completed her Master Gardener certificate and attended on-line webinars. She also loved to travel and participated in many family trips including recent travels to Iceland and Glacier National Park.
In addition to her many interests and large circle of friends, Claran found joy in her family. She encouraged her children to join her in the garden and kitchen when they were young and took them on many adventures from country auctions to camping trips. She was in constant touch with her four grandchildren with whom she developed a special bond they will carry in their hearts forever.
Claran is survived by her children, Bruce (Carol) Ramsdell, Susan (John) Ayres and Paul (Greta) Ramsdell. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Eric and Garett Bluemn and Darby and Delaney Ramsdell. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her sister, Alice Hoskins.
The family would like to thank the friends, health professionals and Claran ’ s church family who provided their support and friendship. A special thank you to her Pine Park neighbors who maintained the weekly “friend’s FaceTime chat”, dropped off a bowl of soup, gave her rides to bridge games, fixed a leaky faucet, or stopped to visit her when she was gardening. Your kindness to our mother will always be remembered.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 2112 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire on August 3, 2024 at 3:00 with visitation from 1:30-3:00. Pastor Katheryn Reid Walker will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in her memory to The First Presbyterian Church of Eau Claire or the “ Women’s Giving Circle Fund ” at ECCF, 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701 or online at www.eccfwi.org . ”
Claran grew up in a small rural community “a block from school and a block from church”, and her early years revolved around family, friends, church, and school. During elementary school, Claran developed close friendships with a group of girls who remained best friends throughout their lives. The “ Girls from Le Center ” continued to get together two or three times a year to reconnect and, as time went by, to support each other through life’s ups and downs.
Claran married Harry James “ Jim” Ramsdell on November 29 th , 1952, at St. Paul ’ s Episcopal Church in Le Center and the couple moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Jim was stationed during the Korean conflict. After leaving Hawaii, the couple called numerous communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin home while Jim taught music and later became a school superintendent. During these years, Claran was a homemaker caring for their three children, however, she found time to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities. Claran began her career as a special education teacher in 1979 at Lake Holcomb and retired from the Fall Creek School District in 1993. Claran loved her work with elementary children and felt a sense of pride in helping a child learn to read, write or overcome a learning challenge.
Claran found beauty in the natural world, and she could often be found tending the plants in her garden. She loved collecting interesting blossoms, leaves, branches and seed pods and would turn them into beautiful floral arrangements , potpourri, and wreathes. She was interested in growing perennials and studying landscape design and she readily gifted plants from her gardens to friends and family members. She also shared this passion with visitors to the First Presbyterian Church who enjoy the peace of the meditation garden she helped design and maintain.
Claran was an active member of the Chippewa Falls Lake Wissota Garden Club and participated in garden tours, flower shows and club service projects. Her favorite project was creating holiday ornaments and arrangements to decorate the Cook Rutledge Mansion for Christmas.
Claran was always learning whether it was brushing up on her bridge skills or making the perfect pie crust. In her later years she attended technology classes, ran a successful E-Bay store, completed her Master Gardener certificate and attended on-line webinars. She also loved to travel and participated in many family trips including recent travels to Iceland and Glacier National Park.
In addition to her many interests and large circle of friends, Claran found joy in her family. She encouraged her children to join her in the garden and kitchen when they were young and took them on many adventures from country auctions to camping trips. She was in constant touch with her four grandchildren with whom she developed a special bond they will carry in their hearts forever.
Claran is survived by her children, Bruce (Carol) Ramsdell, Susan (John) Ayres and Paul (Greta) Ramsdell. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Eric and Garett Bluemn and Darby and Delaney Ramsdell. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her sister, Alice Hoskins.
The family would like to thank the friends, health professionals and Claran ’ s church family who provided their support and friendship. A special thank you to her Pine Park neighbors who maintained the weekly “friend’s FaceTime chat”, dropped off a bowl of soup, gave her rides to bridge games, fixed a leaky faucet, or stopped to visit her when she was gardening. Your kindness to our mother will always be remembered.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 2112 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire on August 3, 2024 at 3:00 with visitation from 1:30-3:00. Pastor Katheryn Reid Walker will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in her memory to The First Presbyterian Church of Eau Claire or the “ Women’s Giving Circle Fund ” at ECCF, 306 S. Barstow St. Suite 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701 or online at www.eccfwi.org . ”
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Claran Ramsdell, please visit our flower store.
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