Clarabelle Dorweiler

Clarabelle Dorweiler, 104, of Linn, passed away peacefully on the family farm May 15, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Clarabelle Teresa Haslag was born on February 20, 1921, in Frankenstein, Missouri to the late August Haslag and Mary Gertrude Stiefermann. Clarabelle was their only daughter who was raised with three older brothers: Sylvester (“Syl”), Raphael (“Ray”), and Bertinus (“Bert”). She was raised tough, and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. She was a farm girl through and through, enjoying all things outdoors, fishing, gardening, mushroom hunting, milking cows and all the other hard work farming entails. She was a firm believer that the simplicity of farm life taught life lessons which no classroom can–hard work, dedication, perseverance, patience, and the pure joy of a successful crop. When reminiscing, she often recalled that “those were the days, and she wouldn’t want it any other way”.

Clarabelle spoke fondly of the local dances that would take place around Osage County while she was growing up. These dances were not in a dance hall, but the kind of dances where you would simply move the furniture out of the way at someone’s house, and if you played an instrument, you were part of the band. Clarabelle played the piano until meeting her forever dance partner, Cyrus. They dated for three and half years before marrying however she often tells their love story noting that, “we would have married much sooner if we could have”.

On August 30, 1941, Clarabelle married her first love, Cyrus Dorweiler, in Frankenstein, Missouri, and the service was performed by Fr. Tailer. Their love was inspirational as they worked side by side to create a life, they would be proud of. She later cared for Cyrus once he fell ill until he left us to go be with the good Lord in January 2004.

Both longtime members of St. George Church of Linn, Clarabelle lived in her beliefs every day, standing firm in her values, and caring deeply for those around her.

In addition to working on the family farm, she worked at Linn Manufacturing company as a Seamstress until it closed. She then worked as a laborer at McGraw Edison in Jefferson City.

During World War II, she temporarily relocated to St. Louis where she became one of the 20 million women who went to work in the industry doing jobs previously done by the men who went off to war to serve their country. She made shell casings and tracer rounds for their ammunition in the Defense Plant during the day. No stranger to hard work, she then cleaned houses in the evening and weekends to supplement their income. She retraces those stories of generations that no history book can replace. Having lived to be 104, she lived through major historical events, including, multiple wars, Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement, The Women’s Liberation Movement, The Great Depression, 10 Popes, and several US Presidents. She enjoyed sharing her stories with her family, giving them snapshots of the past. “She was our very own walking/talking history lesson.”

When the war ended, she and Cyrus returned to Linn to the family farm. She devoted the rest of her life to running their farm full time with her husband. They raised cattle, pigs, and chickens, but there were always goats, dogs, the occasional feral cat taking up housing in the barns and work mules: which took the place of today’s tractor. She helped tend fields of hay, cultivated gardens full of vegetables, and orchards with apple and peach trees. Clarabelle took considerable pride in canning and harvesting every season. Providing for her family and sharing the literal fruits of her labor with her neighbors wasn’t just a hobby or pastime to her, it was a way of life. She would say, “Everything has a use”.

Passionate about traditions of the simple farm life. She found solace in God's artistry in all the colorful hues from the early morning sunrise and evening sunsets above the fields. The way the breeze would take her bobber around the ponds, patiently waiting for it to sink. She could spend hours listening and watching birds. She raised Parakeets and Cockateels. With each season, it brought a new appreciation; admiring the leaves changing for fall, checking the persimmons to predict what winter would bring, smelling the intoxicating smell of fresh cut grass mixed with a little honeysuckle and those very potent wild onions in the spring, or her first freshly picked bouquet of lilacs right before the onset of summer, which she would display in a mason jar on her windowsill. There was always something calming to her as she would sit and watch the Missouri rains move across the holler from her front porch. Continuing to find ways to connect with all God’s creations, she also enjoyed her “me” time as she worked the ground in her beautiful flower beds. There was no plant she couldn’t revive with her gentle “green thumb”. She grew all types of flowers inside and out of the home. You could easily find a Begonia or African Violet plant soaking up the sun in front of her windows throughout her house. While Zinnias, Daffodils, Petunias, Tulips, Irises, and her favorite, Dahlias, just to name a few filled her vibrant flower beds.

She enjoyed embroidery and was an avid quilter. People would come from surrounding counties and states to purchase one of her handmade quilts. A true labor of love gift, and she made sure to save one for each grand- and great- grandchildren to gift for their own wedding and first baby quilt. All cherished today, with just a couple still set aside in her cedar chest labeled and ready to be gifted. Quilting she would say, “keeps my hands busy, my mind calm, my heart happy, and my family warm”. Much like everyone that has one of these quilts, they are all uniquely different. Her quilts do have a few things in common; they were all stitched with dignity, pride, and love. “But if you called them a blanket, I’m taking it back”.

An enthusiast collector of salt and pepper shakers, Clarabelle collected over 2,000 pairs from all around the world and a few from abroad which were given to her by family and friends from their vacations. She was always thought of however the hard part was remembering which ones she already had. Not forgetting much she knew exactly which sets she had collected over the years and enjoyed showing and telling them off. Embroidery, crocheting, and putting puzzles together became a couple ways she liked to practice keeping her mind sharp and pass the time. Being a lifetime Missourian, she rarely missed a Cardinals baseball game on TV. Clarabelle was able to finally attend a game in 2011. However, spending time around the dinette visiting while playing Dominoes or a good card game with her family gave her the most joy. Preference and Rummy were her favorites!

Her heart always gave a welcoming invite, her smile brought comfort, and her touch made you feel love. All that along with a slight sprinkle of her unfiltered and typically unexpected sass were sure to leave you feeling right at home around her.

She was an amazing Mother, one-of-a-kind grandmother who even earned a couple “greats” in the front of her very prestigious Grandmother title as her family continues to grow. She embodied what Grandma’s love was all about and she was truly a token “Gram” to all those that met her. Clarabelle was also a lifetime friend, beloved aunt, precious grandmother, caring wife, and a treasured mother to one daughter, Theresa, who survives on the family’s Century farm.

In addition to her daughter Theresa Arlen, Clarabelle leaves behind to cherish her memory and celebrate a heartfelt tribute to her wisdom; three granddaughters with their husbands; Diana (Doug) Kain, Linda (Vic) Dudenhoeffer, and Angie (Dominic) McCalter, four bonus grandchildren; Bev (Kenny) Wilder, George B. Arlen, Michelle (Scott (d.)) Carter, and Melissa (Bob) Guillow, many great-grandchildren, plus several nieces, and nephews.

Preceding her in death is her husband, Cyrus Dorweiler; her brothers with their wives; Sylvester (Augusta) Haslag, Raphael (Bernice) Haslag, Bertinus (Regina) Haslag: son-in-law; George E. Arlen; and her sister-in-law with husband; Fedialis (George) Schroeder, along with several other loved ones and special friends.

Having such longevity, people would often ask what her secret is to live such a long active life, and with a bit of a chuckle and a shrug of her shoulders, her answer was simple, “love it & give thanks to the Lord”.

We invite those whose lives she touched to join us in celebrating her remarkable journey: Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Morton Chapel in Linn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at St. George Catholic Church in Linn with Fr. Colin Franklin as the Celebrant. Burial will be in the St. George Parish Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the St. George Catholic School in Linn.

Arrangements are under the direction of Morton Chapel, Linn, Missouri (897-2214)    www.mortonchapel.com