Grace Clulow

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Grace Gessner Clulow, 100, of Fremont, OH passed away February 9, 2022. Born at her parent's farm home in Riley Twp., Grace was the daughter of Louis P. and Rozella Bolcen Gessner. Siblings were Dorothy (Peters), Ruth (Watson), and Vernon Gessner, all of whom preceded her in death.

She married First Lieutenant E. Donald Clulow of Manchester, CN at Grace Lutheran Church in 1945. He died in 1998.

Surviving are three children: John (Carol) Clulow, Elburn, IL; Sarah (Rev. Thomas) Schwartz, Medina, OH; and Barbara (Terrence) McGrady, Fremont, OH; grandchildren: Steven (Myca) Mielke Ph.D., Katherine (Christopher D.O.) Carmichael D.O; great-grandchildren: Olivia Grace Mielke, Graham Christopher Harry Carmichael, and Grace Katherine Aila Carmichael.

Grace attended Faust one-room country school ( grades 1 - 8 ). Notable memories: her teacher, Helen Hirt Hiebel, gave permission for Grace to bring her pet lamb to school for a day. A 1934 highlight was a field trip to the Toledo Zoo, when about 40 students from Faust and Jacobs schools were transported to the Zoo in the back of a farm truck.

Grace graduated from Fremont Ross High in 1939, from Bowling Green State University, cum laude, and from University of Toledo with a Master's degree in Educational Media. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi national honor society and was named a Martha Jennings Scholar in 1982.

Grace was a retired educator who began her career teaching all eight grades at Lance one-room school, Riley Twp. She also taught third grade at Green Springs Elementary and later fourth grade at Stamm School, Fremont, until retirement in 1989.

A life member of NEA, OEA, and Sandusky County Retired Teachers Association, Grace was especially interested in the restoration of the Norwalk one-room country school house, rebuilt on the BGSU campus. She contributed many of the furnishings including a recitation bench, teacher's desk and chair, five student desks (all from Fremont), a brass teacher's bell, old text books and maps, McGuffey Readers, slates and slate pencils and as a gift from her fourth grade class at Stamm School, a large 38-star U.S. Flag ordered to be appropriate for the time period.

Nature and the environment were special interests which involved the planting of 1200 red oak and white oak trees on the Louis P. Gessner farm in 1993 as well as establishing a bluebird and tree swallow trail there. Earth Day is observed each year on April 22, her birthday; for Grace, a happy coincidence.

The Gessner Book, a family genealogy with memories of growing up on the farm in the 1920's and 1930's, including family photographs, was written, designed and hardbound in 2011 by Grace and daughter Barbara, a graphic artist. Contributing memories and photos were included from seven grandchildren of Louis P. and Rozella Gessner: Judy Peters, Stanley Watson, Sharon Watkins, Nadine Smith, John Clulow, Sarah Schwartz, and Barbara McGrady. An addition to The Gessner Book including additional photos and family tree was submitted by relative Pat Dwyer.

Visitation will begin 10am Saturday, February 19th, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church, Fremont, Ohio, with services beginning at 11am. Grace chose cremation. Release of Grace's ashes in Gessner Woods and a private Celebration of Life Dinner is scheduled for April 22nd.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Fremont, OH, Stein Hospice, Sandusky, OH, or Society for the Protection of Animals, P.O. Box 1047, Fremont, OH 43420. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hermanfh.com

Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrrangements.