Clara M. Youngberg

Clara M. Youngberg, 97, of Waterville, KS, died Saturday, December 15, 2012, at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan, KS. Visitation was Friday, December 21, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. A funeral service was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 22, at the United Methodist Church in Waterville. Rev. Debby Dick officiated. Beverly Hedke played the organ while Kim Oatney sang “How Great Thou Art” and “In the Garden.” The congregation sang “Amazing Grace.” The pallbearers were Wayne Miller, Bruce Feldhausen, Dick Reinhardt, Leo Schneider, Leon Krouse and Ryan Wieters. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Waterville. Clara was born to Hugh and Clara (Burgess) McGrath on December 8, 1915 at Home, KS. She attended Balderson School for seven years and graduated from Marysville High School. Clara went on to study at the University of Kansas, graduating with a major in music education, voice, piano and a minor in pipe organ. She did graduate work at University of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. Clara taught music at the schools in Waterville and Blue Rapids. She had a private studio where she taught voice, piano and organ for many years. Clara was a member of the United Methodist Church, P.E.O., Shakespeare Club, American Legion Auxiliary and the Welcome Club. She directed the choir in St Mark Lutheran Church for over 50 years, was the organist for the Methodist and Lutheran churches for many years and sang for numerous occasions. She married Clem Youngberg and they owned and operated Youngberg Funeral Home, where she was a licensed funeral director. They sold the funeral business when Clem’s health failed. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clem Youngberg; and brothers, Frank and Harry McGrath. Surviving her is a nephew, Chad L. McGrath and wife, Agnes, of Tigard, OR; great nephew, Matthew C. McGrath of Seattle , WA; and great niece, Monika Bennett of Stockholm, Sweden. A memorial fund has been established to the United Methodist Church in Waterville. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary, Marysville. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clara M. Youngberg, please visit our flower store.