Esther Alta Deverwaere 97, formerly of Clarence and Lowden, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2010, in Yukon, Oklahoma. Memorial services will be held at Chapman Funeral Home, Clarence on Thursday, September 2 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. David Mears officiating. Internment will be in the Clarence Cemetery. The daughter of Frederick and Johanna (Schubert) Busch, she was born March 29, 1913, in rural Jackson county Iowa. Her early life through the 8th grade was spent on the family farm and attending rural school in the Wheatland area. She remembered her early years as fun times of horseback riding, family gatherings, and barn dances. Having four older brothers, she said she had to develop �boy skills� being better than they were at horseback riding, tree climbing, and running. Her parents moved from the farm to town and purchased the Wheatland Caf�. Later they acquired the Wheatland Hotel and eventually a Phillips 66 convenience type store on Highway 30. She helped with running all of the businesses. At age 19, because of her outgoing, friendly, and cheerful personality, she won the most popular girl in Wheatland contest. For many years she worked in Clarence at Le-Hi�s Caf� and B & K�s Store. Along with working, she managed to find time to be active in social, scouting, and church activities. Not one to slow down in her later years she enjoyed playing games of �chance,� fishing in Minnesota, casinos, cards, bingo, and dancing to polka music. Moving to Oklahoma in 2001 to be closer to her family, she was still able to maintain an independent life style until she reached age 95 at which time she entered a nursing facility. She married Thomas �Tom� Jerome Clemmens on March 23, 1938, at Davenport, Iowa. He died March 14, 1970. She married Clarence Arthur �Art� Deverwaere on September 9, 1972. He died May 23rd, 1990. She is survived by: a son Ron (Elaine) Clemmens, Yukon, Oklahoma; stepsons Frank Deverwaere, Wheatland, Iowa, John Deverwaere, Grand Mound, Iowa, and stepdaughter Rhonda (Nick) Brett, Bells, Texas; numerous grandchildren; step grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was a loving and caring person who will be greatly missed by family and friends.\nShe was preceeded in death by: her parents; brothers Hank, Fritz, Louie, and John; and infant sister Johanna; husbands Tom and Art; stepson Jan Deverwaere; and all brother and sister in-laws. Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous or an organization of your choice in memory of Esther.