Clara Wanner Neelands' Obituary
Clara Neelands of St. Helens, Oregon passed away November 27, 2023 at the age of 99. Clara was born August 10, 1924 in Plentywood, Montana to John and Eva (Melle) Wanner.
Clara married Bruce Neelands Jr on July 11, 1942, they were married for 62 years until Bruce’s death in 2004. Clara started working at Montgomery Ward in 1940 for $0.67 an hour, she once got a ¼ cent raise. In 1949 she started work at Continental Can Company and worked there until her early retirement.
She and Bruce moved to Scappoose in 1962 and built their first home on Dutch Canyon Road, she raised three children and was very involved in her community. Clara was a charter member of the League of Women Voters of Oregon where she volunteered constantly. She also volunteered at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church food bank, she was a member of Scappoose Historical Society, and volunteered at Watts House from 1970 – 2000, she was secretary for the board of directors in construction of the Columbia Hills Retirement Home from 1980 – 2000, she was a member of the Red Hat Society, delivered meals on wheels, a volunteer at the Scappoose Senior Center, she volunteered at Grant Watts reading program and she could often be seen at the fair in the ticket booths most years. In the little free time, she did have she loved to walk. She would often walk up the watershed road anywhere from 2.5 to 5 miles a day. Clara also loved spending time with her grandchildren.
Clara is survived by her three children: Bruce Neelands, Brian Neelands, and Lisa Witzel as well as 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce Neelands Jr..
A service was held December 2, 2023, at Columbia Memorial Gardens in Scappoose, Oregon.
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