Clarice R. CrossWapello, Iowa

Clarice R Cross, 97, of Wapello, IA, passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026 with her family surrounding her after living a long and full life. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 12, 2026 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello. Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 12, 2026 at the funeral home. A memorial has been established for the Bird House – Hospice Home of Johnson County in Clarice’s name.
Born Clarice Rogene Roush on February 13, 1929 to parents John Blair and Fern Roush at home in Joes, Colorado. She spent the first five years of her life in Joes, Colorado until the family moved to Laird, Colorado. The family moved again when she was about junior high age to Haxtun, Colorado. She graduated High School from Haxtun and the family moved once more to Crook, Colorado.
After High School, she went off to college at State Teachers College in Greeley, Colorado where she met her future husband, Harold. Harold was a graduating senior and had secured a teaching job in Iowa. So he asked Clarice to marry him and move to Iowa. They got married on July 25, 1948 and moved to Wayland Iowa that same year. Harold taught at Wayland schools and Clarice became secretary to the principal. Harold then got his lifetime job in Wapello, Iowa in 1952 and continued their lifetime journey. Clarice became a homemaker focused on raising her family which eventually included 3 sons and a daughter. Along the way she was a member of P.E.O., volunteered with the Red Cross Blood Drive, and supported and chaperoned the Wapello Band on their many trips, and she was a member of the United Methodist Church.
After Harold retired, they spent many years traveling to many different countries. Clarice was an avid Hawkeye fan going on many bowl trips to watch the Football games. She went to a couple of NCAA wrestling tournaments, and a Hawkeye Cruise to Hawaii with the football team and Kirk Ferentz.
Clarice was preceded in death by her husband Harold, youngest son Kenneth, parents John and Fern, her 3 brothers Bud, Charles, and Rich, and her sister Helen.
Clarice is survived by two sons, Gerald (Jerry) and wife JoAnne of Ardmore Oklahoma, Thomas and wife Janet of Wapello, daughter Carol and husband Rick Wyss of Iowa City, seven grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.
We love her, we miss her, and we celebrate the long life she lived. We are sad she is gone, but happy that she will be reunited with her husband Harold.