Obituaries : Velma Mae Stone LeClere Jensen

Velma Mae Stone LeClere Jensen, 100, of Coggon, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, Iowa. A celebration of Velma's life will be held later in the Spring, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City, where the family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until the service time on Saturday. Pastor Sheri Anderson will officiate. Interment will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Coggon.

Velma was born on December 10, 1923, in Rockford, Illinois, the daughter of William R. and Nellie M. (Haddeman) Stone. She graduated from Manchester High School and then went onto beauty school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On February 11, 1943, she married Robert LeClere. They had 54 years together and to this union, one daughter was born. Together, they loved to go square dancing for many years. Mr. LeClere passed away on May 4, 1997. Nearly six years later, on January 31, 2003, Velma was united in marriage to Carl Jensen, an army buddy of Robert's, in Coggon. They had nearly 20 years together.

Velma owned and operated her own Beauty Salon. Most recently, she worked for Rockwell Collins, until her retirement in 1985. She loved camping, fishing, and crocheting, and in her later years, enjoyed coloring. Velma was a member of the United Parish Church in Coggon and a former member of the Eastern Star Lodge in Coggon. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Velma is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Linda Carlson of Coggon; three grandchildren, Tim (Ann) Carlson of Atkins, Iowa, Becky Carlson (fiancé, Tim McCaffery), and Doug Carlson (fiancée, Krista Stepanek); nine great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren and one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Robert LeClere; second husband, Carl Jensen; brothers, Burdette and Les Stone; son-in-law, David Carlson; and niece, Leona Meyer.

Memorials in Velma's memory may be directed to either the American Heart Association or to a favorite charity of the donor's choice.