Obituary of Clarice Elaine Shum

Clarice Elaine (Desch) Shum was born February 10, 1928, to Robert Joseph and Ruth (Krise) Desch in Lima, Ohio.  She attended school in Lima, OH, Dexter, MO., and Holland MI. and high school In Marion IN. The family later moved to Clarinda and Clarice graduated from Clarinda High School.

On February 3, 1948, she married her husband of 60 years Harry Joseph Shum.  Together they had 6 children, Larry Randall, Barbara JoAnne, David Duane, Russell Joseph, Patricia Lynne, and Pamela Sue.

For most of Clarice’s life she was a mother and a homemaker, devoting her time to her family and raising her children.  She also worked several jobs such as a cook at the A & W, The Clarinda Company, part-time at the Clarinda Hospital and part- time at Garrett Reality. Later in her life she worked at the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum, donating her time to preserving history.  Clarice loved ancestry and putting together photo albums for each of her children.

She was known to have the best potato salad and she had the whistle down.  You could hear it from blocks away and you knew it was her and knew it was time to come home.

Clarice is preceded in death by her husband Harry of 60 years, parents, Robert (Bob) and Ruth Desch, daughter Barbara JoAnne Friend, and brother and sister-in-law Ed (Charlene) Desch.

She is survived by her children: Larry Shum, David (Donna) Shum, Russell (Yan) Shum, Patricia Shum and Pam (Roger Barr) Woodruff, son-in-law Ivan Friend ; grandchildren Jason (Nikki) Friend, Nicole (Jeremy) Atwood, Jason (Brandy) Shum, Jessie (Gary) Caselman, Edgar Shum, Jamie (Victor) Vasquez, Joseph (Juscinda) Woodruff , Dakota Woodruff, Kevin (Carol) Barr, Melinda Bebout, Jake (Tori) McMillian, and Tanner Barr; 28 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren along with many other family members and numerous friends.