Cover photo for Claire Koobs's Obituary
Claire Koobs Profile Photo
1924 Claire 2020

Claire Koobs

January 7, 1924 — May 19, 2020

Grundy Center

Claire Koobs, 96, of Grundy Center, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at Westbrook Acres Nursing Home in Gladbrook.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect the health and safety of all, services are currently being limited as required by state and local authorities and the CDC. The family will hold a private visitation and interment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Pallbearers will be members of the Grundy Center American Legion and AmVets. Memorials may be directed to Westbrook Acres, 605 Garfield, Gladbrook, IA  50635. Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Engelkes-Chapel is caring for Claire and his family.

Claire was born January 7, 1924, outside Grundy Center, the son of William Koobs and Clarice (Hasbrouck) Koobs.  Claire graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1941.  He enlisted in the US Army in 1943 serving in the Signal Corps; SGT Claire was assigned to the telephone office in Metz, France, where he met Blanche Collette, who was working as a telephone operator.  They later became engaged and spent the next year apart as the necessary paperwork was processed and were married May 31, 1947. They made their home in rural Grundy county where they farmed, moving to Grundy Center in 1971.  In 2017, Claire made his home at Sunrise apartments and spent his last days at Westbrook Acres in Gladbrook.

After his discharge from the military, he returned home to farm with his father until 1971.  Claire and Blanche owned and operated Blaire Apartments in Grundy and later the Gladbrook Bowl in Gladbrook.  In retirement, he continued to work at managing Blaire Apartments and as a handy man who could fix anything for anyone.

He was active in the First Presbyterian Church, the Farm Bureau, 40 & 8, and the American Legion serving as the Adjutant for 27 years.  He and Blanche had many friends.  Claire loved to read and fix things.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

He is survived by a daughter, Colette (Scott) Ford and son, Gail Koobs (Dee Erickson).  He has four grandchildren, Michelle (Trae) Olsen, Angela Lara (Jeremy -Phetteplace), Deanna Pandarvis (Dean Dybvik) and Brian (Mary) Erickson, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one brother, Jack Koobs, one sister, Patti Koobs Wood, three sisters-in-law, Darlene Koobs, Heidi Koobs, and Jean Koobs, seven nephews and 13 nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, two brothers Jerry and Roger and three sisters, Margaret, Alice and Maxine, a sister-in-law, Irene Koobs and three brothers-in-law, Leonard Grimsley, Phil Strehle and Lester Wood, three nieces and one nephew.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Claire Koobs, please visit our flower store.

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