Clarence A. Wassmuth was born Dec. 26, 1918, the fourth child of Clemens and Elizabeth Wassmuth. He passed away May 17, 2012, at the Idaho State Veterans Home at the age of 93 because of colon cancer. Clarence was raised on a farm outside of Greencreek, along with his 12 brothers and sisters, and helped work the family farm until he joined the U.S. Army in 1942. He drove truck during World War II until returning home in 1945. Clarence then began to work in the sawmill in Grangeville. He and Rita Wessels were married June 15, 1949, and purchased a farm four miles east of Ferdinand. Along with farming, raising cattle and hogs, Clarence was a carpenter and helped to build and renovate many homes in the Cottonwood area for more than 40 years. After that, he spent many hours handcrafting dressers, cabinetry, cedar chests, and other small items for his children and grandchildren.
He will be remembered for his wind-up toy collection that numbered in excess of 1,000 toys at the time of his death. He enjoyed playing the fiddle for his children and grandchildren and loved to draw for them when they came to visit. His favorite pastime was to visit with people and he enjoyed the many friends that stopped at the veterans home to see him. In his later years he also enjoyed a good game of bingo and blackjack, and never missed the ice cream socials. He was very proud of his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments and made many scrapbooks of their achievements that he could cut out of the local papers. He wrote his own autobiography, which his family will cherish and be able to pass down through the generations.
He was a member of the St. Anthony's Society in Greencreek, and the VFW Post 4902. He served as Parish Council vice president in 1970. Clarence is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rita; his 11 children: Helena Snyder, Urban (Laura) Wassmuth, Theresa (Jack) Uptmor, Tom Wassmuth, Janice (Dude) Raykovich, Greg Wassmuth, Anne (Daryl) Sander, Mary (Steve) Higgins, Karen (Doug) Lustig, Sheila (Brad) Hart, and Bruce (Miranda) Wassmuth; along with 37 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Bernadine Bruegeman; brothers Lawrence (Dorothy) Wassmuth, Clemens Wassmuth, Tony (Eileen) Wassmuth, Vince (Dee) Wass-muth, and Leonard (Bonnie) Wassmuth; sister Elizabeth Wassmuth; sisters-in-law Florence Wassmuth, Sr. Bernice Wessels OSB, Dorothy (Don) Keuter, and Bernadine Wessels; brothers-in-law Donald (Rita) Wessels, John (Teddy) Wessels and Elmer (Irene) Wessels. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Clarence (stillborn); granddaughter Cheyenne Herzog; brothers Joe and Nick Wassmuth; sisters Christine Winkler and Hildegarde Wassmuth; his father and mother-in-law, Albert and Lena Wessels; sisters-in-law Lena Wassmuth and Ellen Wassmuth, Sr.; Edward Wessels OSB; Marcella Wessels; and brothers-in-law Sylvester Winkler, Fred Bruegeman and Harold Wessels.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Greencreek, with a recitation of the rosary service beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Anthony's Church.
Special appreciation is given to the staff and volunteers at the veterans home. The exceptional care and love given to him for the past three years gave him a true home with you and a second family. The family is also grateful to dad's roommate, Max Stewart, and his family for their companionship these past three years.