Clara Rose Kafka, 89, of Wagner

Funeral mass will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, April 3, 2025 at Assumption Catholic Church in Dante. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Dante. Visitation will be from 5-7, Wednesday, April 2, 2025 with a Rosary/Scripture Wake service at 7 PM at the church.

Clara Rose (Beeson) Kafka died on March 28, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall, SD.  She was born on October 1, 1935 on a farm southwest of Wagner, SD to Raymond and Grace (Sell) Beeson.

Clara was baptized and confirmed in the Assumption Catholic Church in Dante, SD.  She attended country school south of Dante through the 8th grade and then attended Mount Marty High School in Yankton, SD, graduating in 1953.  She was always proud of her Mount Marty education.

Clara married Richard (Dick) Kafka on September 25, 1956 in Dante.  They farmed southeast of Wagner until they moved into town in 1984.  Then Clara and Dick owned and operated K's Qwik Stop until retiring in 2001.  In addition to farming and working at K's, Clara held several other jobs, including at Miller's 5 and 10 store in Wagner before marrying, as a CNA at the Wagner nursing home, as a cook at the Wagner hospital, and babysitting numerous children.

Despite holding several different jobs during her lifetime, Clara's most important, fulfilling, and cherished job was that as homemaker, mother, and grandmother.  She often mentioned she had no greater joy than being with her children and then grandchildren and then great-grandchildren.  Clara spent many, many hours cooking and baking, especially her kolaches and cinnamon rolls, and often with the help of her children and grandchildren.  Many of her grandchildren have fond memories of baking with her and also memories of going on drives with grandma when she was easily encouraged to drive a little silly.  Clara was also known for her drawing ability.  She loved to make personalized homemade birthday cards for her family.

Clara taught 8th grade CCD classes for many years at Assumption in Dante and then St. John's in Wagner.  She was a member of the Altar Society, Catholics Daughters of America, and Right-to-Life.  Her deep faith never wavered her entire life.

Clara served as an outstanding example of getting along with others and loved nothing more than gathering with family.  She was humble, never a credit seeker, and had a great sense of humor loving to be silly and laugh.  She enjoyed visiting over coffee and a sweet treat of any kind.  For Clara, it was always the right time to enjoy a treat.  In her retirement years, she greatly enjoyed the group she met for coffee every afternoon at K's and then The Cake Lady Bakery.

Clara is survived by 9 children: Richard (Roberta) of Gregory, Dan (Arlis) of Wagner, Jeff (Brynn) of Wentworth, Ron (Lynda) of Wagner, Lisa (Del) Mandl of Lincoln, NE, Jerry (Sherrie) of Marion, Julie (Stacey) Powers of Avon, Jay (Kim) of Wagner, and Joe (Kristi) of Wagner, her 31 grandchildren, her 33 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. She is survived by her brother Larry (Sylvia) of Wagner and her sister Irene (Jim) Mullen of Lake Kiowa, TX.  Her surviving in-laws include Donna Beeson of Sequim, WA, Bev Beeson of Yankton, JoAnn Beeson of Wagner, and Delores Kafka of Yankton and daughter-in-law Vanessa of Mitchell, SD.

Clara was preceded in death by her husband, her son Tom, an infant son, her parents, her sister Ann Kafka Schmuck, her brothers Thomas (Alice), Delbert (Arlene), Bob, Buster, Richard (Darlene), and Francis, and in-laws Bob (Candy) Kafka and Bill Kafka.