Clarence Balzer

Clarence Balzer, 92, of Yakima passed away peacefully on Friday, July 22nd. Clarence was born July 27th, 1929, in Huntley, Montana to Fred and Eva (Mickell) Balzer. He was the fifth of twelve children. His family came to the Wapato area in September 1941. He always told stories of how his family thought that this was such a wonderful place with all of the fruit and agriculture. He was longtime area resident. On August 1st, 1954, he married Marietta Severance. Together, they raised five children in Wapato. Clarence worked for many years at Leo Gasseling and Sons Inc. and retired from there. In 1989, they moved to their home in Yakima. Clarence was a very special man. He loved his family and was always there when they needed him. There are so many treasured family memories of camping and jeep trips. He loved going to Ohanapecosh Campgrounds and the Oregon & Washington coasts. Clarence & Marietta did so much together. Along with their immediate family, they shared their time with Clarence’s sister Elsie and her husband, Jack Meyer and his other sister, Betty & her husband, Chuck Crowell & their nieces, Lorrie and Sharri. Over the years, they traveled to 16 States. He collected belt buckles from the states they have been in. They were known to just take off on marathon road trips. There was a lot they wanted to see. They tried to make the most out of their vacation time. They tried snow-birding for a few months, in Yuma, Arizona with his brother Lawrence and Irene. They both liked being home in the Yakima Valley better. Clarence and Marietta, together, restored their 1961 Chevy Apache Pickup in their two-car garage. It was quite challenging, but they did it. Also, Clarence recently liked to collect models of tractors. They reminded him of the days working on the ranch. Clarence served in the Marines from 1951 to 1953 active duty and was in the Reserves for 6 more years. He was a Lance Corporal and was stationed in Hawaii. It was quite a change from the Yakima Valley. Being a Marine was very important to him. He would light up when he would talk about his time of service. He considered all Marines to be his brothers. Both Clarence and Marietta loved seeing their grandkids and great-grandkids and hearing about their adventures. It meant so much to them when they would come to visit. Clarence is survived by his wife, Marietta, son, Cary (Nancy) Balzer of Spokane, daughter, Frances (Mark) Chambers of Wapato, son, Jack Balzer of Yakima, daughter-in-law Lenore, wife of their son, the late Tom Balzer, and Jeannia (Mike) Stanley of Yakima. Sisters, Claire (Bob) Baim, Virginia (Eldon) Poisel, and Betty (Chuck) Crowell They have nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father & Mother, Fred & Eva Balzer, his son Tom Balzer, Brothers, Fred Balzer, Henry Balzer, and Lawrence Balzer and Sisters, Esther Garton, Elsie Meyer, Lillian Balzer, Dorothy Tuttle, and Shirley Duval. A special thank you to his physicians Dr. Catton and Dr. Krueger & their staff for their excellent care over the years, and also to the staff at Good Samaritan for their care over the last two months. A Graveside Service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, August 12th at 11:00 a.m. at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Drive, with a reception to follow at the Yakima Harman Senior Center, 101 N 65th Ave. Valley Hills of Yakima is in charge of services. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clarence Balzer, please visit our flower store.