Clem Dinger

Clem Dinger, age 99, of Decorah died Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at Wellington Place Nursing Home in Decorah. A Celebration of Life and Memory was held Saturday, February 21 at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. Stacey Nalean - Carlson officiating. Interment was in Pontoppidan Cemetery, Decorah.
Clem Richard Dinger was born June 25, 1915, the son of Richard and Clara (Madson) Dinger, in Bluffton.  Clem attended rural country schools and farmed. He was united in marriage to Tina Invick October 14, 1935. He worked at Rath Packing in Cedar Rapids for a short time and for 45 years he was the Watkins Dealer in Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties.  He farmed in Glenwood Township for many years and loved spending time in the woods. Clem also helped to dig many graves in the area by hand and mow at Phelps Cemetery.
After Tina died in 1984, he was married to Ruth Spilde in August of 1987 at the Decorah Lutheran Church. Over the years, Clem liked to rattlesnake, ginseng and mushroom hunt. He enjoyed life; he lived as a free spirit and was a kind, generous, loving man. He loved music and loved to dance, doing jigs and to play cards. He was a member of the Glenwood Lutheran Church.
Clem is survived by his special step-daughter, Mary (Bill) Rechkemmer of Waverly; several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; 16 step-grandchildren, Mary Lou (Dave) Sorum, Mike (Sara) Onsager, Jim (Martha) Alm, Bob (Evonne) Alm, Deb (Bill) Hoffman, Sonja Sersland, Ondra Gilbertson, Gary (Pauline) Gilbertson, Greg (Ann) Gilbertson, Kevin (Laurann) Gilbertson, Keith (Tammie) Gilbertson, Donna Chesmore, Carl (Mary) Einck, Becky (Rob) Dalessandro, Craig (Kristine) Kroupa and Jeff Kroupa; as well as many step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren.
Clem was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Clara (Madson) Dinger; two wives, Tina (Invick) Dinger in 1984 and Ruth (Spilde) Dinger in 2009; one daughter, Conda Dinger, in infancy; three siblings, Lucille (Casper) Olson, Clem’s twin, Claude (Luella) Dinger, and Lloyd (Eleanor) Dinger; and his step-children, Lucille (Marvin) Onsager, Gail (Jim) Alm, Viola (Orville) Gilbertson, Iola (Nathan) Groff, Sally (Hank) Ganrud, Tom (Marie) Horan, Don Horan and Dodie (Bob) Kroupa; five step-grandchildren, Barbara Johnson, Radine Adam, Orville Gilbertson, Jr., Don Horan and Bobby Kroupa.
Honorary casketbearers were all of Clem’s step-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Casketbeareres were Charles Dinger, Kevin Gilbertson, Mike Onsager, Jay Dansdill, Brady Sorum and Paul Sorum.
Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah handled the arrangements.