Florence Hare, 80

Florence Hare, age 80, Clarksville, Iowa, was born the daughter of Kenneth and Edna (Knight) Collins on June 12, 1945, in Kirksville, Missouri. She was baptized into the Christian faith at the Open Bible Church in Waterloo. She graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1963. 

On September15, 1963, Florence was united in marriage with Frank Hare at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They first lived in the communities of Waterloo, Evansdale, Jesup and Dunkerton. Florence was a cook at Jeorgi’s Café in Evansdale and also worked in the school lunch program in Cedar Falls. When Frank retired in 2005 they moved to their present acreage near Clarksville. Florence enjoyed working alongside Frank on the farm. 

Through the years Florence enjoyed bowling and played in a league for many, many years. She felt it was important to be a faithful blood donor.  In her spare time, she enjoyed building wooden outdoor lawn decorations and painting them. She loved to play cards and board games especially with her family. Her family was her world. 

Florence passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly, Iowa, from natural causes. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Lisa Adams; parents, Kenneth and Edna Collins; brother, Kay Collins; sister-in-law, Mary Collins; daughter-in-law, Theresa Hare; and brother-in-law, Milton Gruber, Sr. 

Florence is survived by her husband of 61 years Frank Hare of Clarksville; two children, Lynda (Daniel) Knudsen of Ft. Collins, CO, and Lewis Hare of Independence; one son-in-law, James Adams of Weldon; six grandchildren, Breanna Hare, Kathleen (Dylan) Gaumer, Kenneth (Hannah) Carlson, Lewis (Lena) Adams, Jacob Hare, and Kc Hare; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers, Thomas (Brenda) Collins of Cedar Falls, Terry (Lorry) Collins of Waterloo, and Jerry Collins of Waterloo; and four sisters, Marie Gruber of Canada, Kathryne (Jim) Buehner of Waterloo, Helen (Bob) Lee of Fowler, CO, Tina (Leland) Fenneman of Clarksville.  

Funeral Services were at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Immanual United Church of Christ in Clarksville, Iowa, with Jill Pliner officiating. The organist was Sharon Leerhoff and she accompanied the congregation singing “Little Brown Church In the Vale,” 

“How Great Thou Art,” and “Amazing Grace.” The casketbearers were Lee Fenneman, Collin Fenneman, Ken Carlson, Lewis Adams, Dylan Gaumer and Kc Hare. Burial was at Garden Of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa. 

Visitation was held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Clarksville. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be left at www.redmanfuneral.com