Mariclare Celestia Hazelwonder

Mariclare Hazelwonder (White)

August 10, 1938 – February 24, 2026

Mariclare Celestia Hazelwonder (White) passed away on February 24, 2026, at the age of 87. She was born on August 10, 1938, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Milan and Henrietta White. Raised with strong Midwestern values, she devoted her life to caring for those around her, always putting family, community, and the needs of others first.

After graduating from St. Cloud State College, Mariclare moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked for Catholic Charities. It was there that she met the love of her life, Ed Hazelwonder. They married and later settled in Calhoun County, where they built both a life and a legacy with the beloved local restaurant Papa’s Pizza. In her later years, Mariclare and Ed enjoyed the simple pleasures of retirement: gardening, hunting, fishing, and, most of all, spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Ed Hazelwonder; Kim Gaddis (Adam), whom she loved as her own; her stepchildren, Ed Hazelwonder Jr. (Shirley) and Susan Hazelwonder (Wendy); her grandchildren, Amanda Johnson (Brock), Samantha Detjen (John Hunter), Jonathon Hazelwonder (Bryn), Tiffany Stanton (Samuel), and Michael Hazelwonder (Rebecca); and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Milan and Henrietta White.

Mariclare will be remembered for her dedication to family, her quiet strength, her generosity of spirit, and the lasting impact she made on those fortunate enough to know and love her.

In keeping with her wishes, there will be no formal services. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring, when the flowers begin to bloom.

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