Clarice 'Reese' J. Willem

Clarice "Reese" J. Willem, age 63, of Hillman, MN, passed away Sunday, November 4, 2007 at her home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 8, 2007 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Hillman, MN, with Rev. Cathy Rhodes officiating. Private interment will take place at a later date. Clarice Joyce DePonty was born on July 21, 1944 in St. Paul, MN, the daughter of Clarence & Gertrude (Diers) DePonty. She grew up in St. Paul and graduated from St. Paul Johnson High School, Class of 1962. She was united in marriage to Bruce Willem in July, 1962. The couple lived in a number of places in Minnesota including, Marine on St. Croix, for three years, Montevideo for two and a half years, Forest Lake for three years and Harris from 1973 to 2003 where they lived on a farm. In 2003, they moved to their home on Sullivan Lake in Morrison County. Clarice worked various jobs during her lifetime and got to know and work with many wonderful people. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, camping and farming. She is a member of the Hillman Red Hats and attended Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Hillman. Clarice is survived by her husband, Bruce Willem of rural Hillman; mother, Gertrude Bartley of Plainview, MN; daughters, Tami (David) Kost of Rush City, MN and Penny Willem of North Branch, MN; sisters, Jackie (Jim) Pederson of Plainview, MN and Kathy Dittle of Ortonville, MN; 4 grandchildren, Amber Koecher and Anika Kost both of Rush City, MN, Jessica Koecher of North Branch, MN, and Christopher Koecher of Hillman, MN, and a great-grandson, Jaiden Koecher of Rush City, MN. Clarice was preceded in death by her father, Clarence DePonty and brother, Fred DePonty.