Funeral services for Clara Nell Pigg Duesterhoeft, age 86, of Collinwood, TN will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, September, 2, 2014 at Shackelford Funeral Home Chapel in Collinwood, TN with Tommy Flood officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Gardens in Collinwood, TN with Shackelford Funeral Directors of Wayne County directing. Visitation will be Monday, September 1, 2014 from 6 pm to 9 pm and Tuesday, September 2, 2014 from 8:30 am to 11 am at Shackelford Funeral Home in Collinwood, TN.
Clara Nell departed this life, surrounded by family, on Friday, August 29th, 2014 at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, AL. She was born October 23, 1927 and raised in the Bear Creek Community near Collinwood, TN. She was one of eleven children born to the late Elihue and Bertha Johnson Berry. She graduated from Collinwood High School in 1945 where she served as captain of the basketball team. She received her B. S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University and her Masters +45 from Tennessee State University.
Clara Nell was united in marriage to Marshall Pigg, of the Bear Creek Community on June 9, 1945. From this marriage, two children were born: Margaret Ann and Travis Hugh. Marshall passed away on August 7, 1981.
While on an Alaskan cruise in 1992, Clara Nell met Martin Duesterhoeft from Stewart, Minnesota, who had also been widowed. On August 25th, 2014, they celebrated their 22nd year of marriage.
Clara Nell was an elementary school teacher in Wayne County, TN for 36 years. She loved gardening, tending to her flowers, riding her ATV over her farm and especially spending time with her family. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports. She was a member of Collinwood United Methodist Church, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post #254, the Wayne County Retired Teachers Association and a volunteer at the Wayne County Welcome Center. Clara Nell and Marshall attended all of his WWII Army Reunions, Anti-Aircraft Battaion (476 AAABn), together until his death. She continued to attend after his death and went to 57 consecutive reunions. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.
Survivors are, husband, Martin Duesterhoeft; daughter, Margaret Ann (Eddie) Thompson; son, Travis Hugh (Debie) Pigg; grandchildren, Madonna Thompson, William (Michelle) Pigg, Shelaine (Wesley) Powell, Stephanie Pigg and Jessica (Ike) Reid; great-grandchildren, Cayden and Saydee Powell and Griffin and Brilea Pigg; two sisters, Cleo Mitchell and Dorothy Shaw; several nieces and nephews.
Preceding Clara Nell in death also were daughter-in-law, Sherry Wade Pigg; sisters, Mable Rich, Clora Belle Rich, Floyce Clemmons; brothers, J.W. Berry, Ben Berry and three infants.
Pallbearers for the service will be members of Collinwood American Legion Post #254 Honor Guard. The Collinwood United Methodist Church choir will provide singing. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Danny McFall, all doctors, nurses, and other staff at ECM Hospital for the loving care and kindness shown to Clara Nell and the family during her hospitalization. We appreciate the guidance and professionalism shown to the family by Roger Balentine and the staff of Shackelford Funeral Home. We would also like to thank the family and friends for the prayers and acts of kindness shown to the family during this time of loss.