Obituary for Claudia A. Walz
Mrs. Claudia Ann Walz, 85, of Jefferson City, Mo. passed away from complications due to Covid-19 on Sunday, November 29, 2020 at Heisinger Bluffs surrounded by her family.
Claudia was born on July 16, 1935 in Jefferson City, Mo. the daughter of Wallace R. and Irene Durham Daly. On March 28, 1954 she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Lee Walz, who preceded her in death on August 31, 1997.
A lifelong resident of Jefferson City she was a 1953 graduate of Jefferson City High School.
Until her retirement in 1997, Claudia had been a long-time legislative assistant at the Missouri State Capitol. Throughout the years, she supported her husband, Bob, with his family business, Milo H. Walz, Inc. Every year she, along with other family members, helped with the chaotic semi-annual drapery sale.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church. While her kids were growing up, she was active in several PTA’s and served as assistant Girl Scout and Cub Scout leaders.
Claudia was an avid reader and her kids knew that if Mom had her “nose in a book” then any questions they asked her would more than likely get a positive response. She loved mysteries, romances and especially histories. Her love of history and reading led to her passion with genealogy. She spent years researching both her maternal and paternal sides of her family. The notebooks she put together for her children included pictures and stories of ancestors from centuries ago. She wanted to find out not just who they were but why they moved to different areas of the country. She was a wonderful story-teller and had many interesting stories about her ancestors to tell her kids and grandkids.
Her grandchildren fondly remember going to the movies with Granny. They would load up on things to eat and drink then find the perfect seat. Once seated, Granny would soon fall asleep while the grandkids enjoyed the movie. If they weren’t able to go to the movie theater it wasn’t a problem because Granny had the biggest and best collection of VHS tapes and DVD movies at her home. The best part of being at her house was that she never paid attention to the parental age rating of the movie so they might watch “Meet Me in St. Louis” and then start watching “Rambo”. After her stroke in 2016 and moving into Heisinger Bluffs Care Center, the staff and residents thoroughly enjoyed her large collection of movies. Until the shut-down due to Covid-19, there was always a group of residents coming into her room to see which movie she was watching that day.
Claudia’s family was always the focus of her love, care and concern and they will miss her dearly.
She is lovingly survived by: her five children, Amy Freeman (husband Phil) of Jefferson City, Leigh Anne Hughes (husband Doug) of Fulton, Robert Walz, Jr. of Jefferson City, Renée Gerard (husband Bret) of Jefferson City and Jaime Walz Ordway of Jefferson City; 13 grandchildren, Don Freeman (wife Robyn), Jason Hughes (wife Tatjana), Ryan Freeman (wife Ashley), Haley Hughes Nelson, Brittney Hughes Jackson, Duncan Hughes, Robert “Trey” Walz III, Ben Walz, Abbey Ordway, Hannah Gerard, Kara Gerard, Bo Gerard and Luke Ordway; 10 great-grandchildren, Myles and Margo Freeman, Charlotte and Mack Freeman, Kathryn and Madison Hughes, Hunter, Willow and Haven Nelson, and Harper Jackson; two sisters-in-law, Janet Walz and Marinell Walz; and one aunt, Mary Lou Durham.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 43 years, Bob; a sister, Sharon Kennedy; and a brother, Michael Daly.
Due to the pandemic, a private funeral service will be conducted on Friday, December 4, 2020 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Trevor Dancer officiating. Private graveside services and interment will be held at Riverview Cemetery.
A webcast of her service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday for extended family and friends that are not able to attend by going to the "photos and videos" tab of this memorial page and scrolling down to the webcasting link. Friends may mail sympathy cards to the funeral home or leave condolences online to be given to her family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Salvation Army or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please mail any donations in Claudia’s memory to P.O. Box 95, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101.
Claudia was born on July 16, 1935 in Jefferson City, Mo. the daughter of Wallace R. and Irene Durham Daly. On March 28, 1954 she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Lee Walz, who preceded her in death on August 31, 1997.
A lifelong resident of Jefferson City she was a 1953 graduate of Jefferson City High School.
Until her retirement in 1997, Claudia had been a long-time legislative assistant at the Missouri State Capitol. Throughout the years, she supported her husband, Bob, with his family business, Milo H. Walz, Inc. Every year she, along with other family members, helped with the chaotic semi-annual drapery sale.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church. While her kids were growing up, she was active in several PTA’s and served as assistant Girl Scout and Cub Scout leaders.
Claudia was an avid reader and her kids knew that if Mom had her “nose in a book” then any questions they asked her would more than likely get a positive response. She loved mysteries, romances and especially histories. Her love of history and reading led to her passion with genealogy. She spent years researching both her maternal and paternal sides of her family. The notebooks she put together for her children included pictures and stories of ancestors from centuries ago. She wanted to find out not just who they were but why they moved to different areas of the country. She was a wonderful story-teller and had many interesting stories about her ancestors to tell her kids and grandkids.
Her grandchildren fondly remember going to the movies with Granny. They would load up on things to eat and drink then find the perfect seat. Once seated, Granny would soon fall asleep while the grandkids enjoyed the movie. If they weren’t able to go to the movie theater it wasn’t a problem because Granny had the biggest and best collection of VHS tapes and DVD movies at her home. The best part of being at her house was that she never paid attention to the parental age rating of the movie so they might watch “Meet Me in St. Louis” and then start watching “Rambo”. After her stroke in 2016 and moving into Heisinger Bluffs Care Center, the staff and residents thoroughly enjoyed her large collection of movies. Until the shut-down due to Covid-19, there was always a group of residents coming into her room to see which movie she was watching that day.
Claudia’s family was always the focus of her love, care and concern and they will miss her dearly.
She is lovingly survived by: her five children, Amy Freeman (husband Phil) of Jefferson City, Leigh Anne Hughes (husband Doug) of Fulton, Robert Walz, Jr. of Jefferson City, Renée Gerard (husband Bret) of Jefferson City and Jaime Walz Ordway of Jefferson City; 13 grandchildren, Don Freeman (wife Robyn), Jason Hughes (wife Tatjana), Ryan Freeman (wife Ashley), Haley Hughes Nelson, Brittney Hughes Jackson, Duncan Hughes, Robert “Trey” Walz III, Ben Walz, Abbey Ordway, Hannah Gerard, Kara Gerard, Bo Gerard and Luke Ordway; 10 great-grandchildren, Myles and Margo Freeman, Charlotte and Mack Freeman, Kathryn and Madison Hughes, Hunter, Willow and Haven Nelson, and Harper Jackson; two sisters-in-law, Janet Walz and Marinell Walz; and one aunt, Mary Lou Durham.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 43 years, Bob; a sister, Sharon Kennedy; and a brother, Michael Daly.
Due to the pandemic, a private funeral service will be conducted on Friday, December 4, 2020 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Trevor Dancer officiating. Private graveside services and interment will be held at Riverview Cemetery.
A webcast of her service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday for extended family and friends that are not able to attend by going to the "photos and videos" tab of this memorial page and scrolling down to the webcasting link. Friends may mail sympathy cards to the funeral home or leave condolences online to be given to her family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Salvation Army or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please mail any donations in Claudia’s memory to P.O. Box 95, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101.