A celebration of life for Clarence Gingerich, age 76, of Kalona will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:30 AM.. Services will be at the Kalona United Methodist Church with Pastor Gerry Kahler officiating.  Burial will be in the National Cemetery in Vining, Iowa at 2:30PM on Wednesday.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 10^th from 2-4 and 6-8PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona.  A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona United Methodist Church and Hospice of Washington County.  Clarence Gingerich died Sunday, January 8, 2012 at his home in rural Kalona from complications of COPD.

Clarence Lloyd Gingerich was born August 25, 1935 in rural Kalona, Iowa, the son of Paul D. and Viola O. (Miller) Gingerich.  He attended Middleburg country school near Kalona.  His 1W service was spent at a hospital in Des Moines, Iowa from 1957 to 1959.  He lived in the Portland, Oregon area from 1963 to 1966.  Clarence was an employee of English River Pellets form March 1967 to September, 2000 at which time he retired due to declining health.  He and his wife managed Windmill Ridge Campground for five years and he enjoyed mowing, morning coffee times with his brothers and taking his grandchildren on “Gator” rides.  He loved driving trucks.

Clarence and Kathy (Homolar) Garbes were married in Kalona on July 30, 1987 and resided in rural Kalona.  They were members of the Kalona United Methodist Church.

Clarence is survived by his wife Kathy of Kalona, son Doyle Gingerich of Kalona, two step daughters, Karla (Bob) Hoppes of Waterloo, IA, Jessica (Brett) Maurer of Walford, IA, four step grandchildren, Jake and Maya Hoppes and Brodie and Caden Maurer, three brothers and three sisters, Mary Gingerich of Charlotte, NC, Eldon (Judith) Gingerich of Riverside, IA, Marlin (Nancy) Gingerich of Riverside, IA, Emery Gingerich of Kalona, Erma (Chester) Peachey of Trout Run, PA, and Barbara (Frank) Pottorff of Kalona, IA.  Preceding Clarence in death were his parents, three brothers, Marvin Jay Gingerich, Paul Gingerich, Jr., an infant brother, one sister, Laura Keener and a sister in law, Jane Gingerich.