Obituary of Clyde Clinton Varner

Clyde Clinton Varner, age 95, passed March 10, 2016. Born in Buffalo and raised on a farm with a large family. The farm and the Great Depression forged a do-it-yourself attitude in Clyde and he became a mechanic. He had service stations in Buffalo and in South Mpls., the last one at 38th & 14th, Clyde's Service. Many of his customers became his friends. They have continued that relationship with the second owner, son Brian Varner. While on leave in Dallas, during WWII, he met Wanda Rose Willoughby. They married in November, 1944 and had seven children. They enjoyed family time by flooding the yard to ice skate, going on camping trips, and building a lake home to entertain their growing family. Clyde treasured his family of origin, his and Wanda's large family, his friends from Buffalo and Bloomington, and his Clyde's Service "family". There is nothing he liked doing more than telling a funny story or cracking funny with one of his "Clydeisms". A great day for Clyde was to fix stuff, visit with people, and do a little yard work. He was doing that almost to his last day. Clyde was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda, his parents, and all but one of his siblings. He is survived by sister, Mary Ellen and his seven children and their families: Katherine (Dick) Nelson, Jacqueline (Jon) Daniels, Shelley (Al Dolejsi) Varner, Janice (Mark) Poferl, Nina (Jay) Haines, Brian (Dedee) Varner, and Wendy (Mark P.) Erickson; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. A celebration of Clyde's life will be held on his 96th birthday, June 29, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Avenue South, Edina. Private interment, Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to Church of the Holy Name, 3637 11th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407 or TheFamilyPartnership.org