Arlene (Rentsch) Lashier

November 11, 1923 - January 14, 2021

Arlene Lashier, of Clear Lake, Iowa, passed away on January 14, 2021, at BRIO Senior Living Complex in Johnston, Iowa. She was 97 years old and lived an extraordinary life of faith, love, and service to her fellow humans. A private family Celebration of Life will be held. Family suggests memorials may be directed to Clear Lake Historical Society, Clear Lake Wellness Center and or BRIO Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. Condolences may be sent to the family at 2612 South Lakeview Dr, Clear Lake, IA, 50428. Arlene was born on November 11th, 1923 to Robert and Gladys (Campbell) Rentsch and grew up on farms in South Dakota and Iowa. Rare for the time, she attended Buena Vista College to become a teacher. There she met her husband, Richard Lashier and, after they were married, she taught 4th grade in Lytton, Iowa. After they had children, she left teaching to devote more time to them. They lived in Jefferson for a time and finally in Clear Lake, where Dick served the last 18 years of his career as superintendent. They spent many fulfilling years in their lake home, traveling to all 50 states, to various places in Europe, and to Australia and New Zealand. But mostly, they enjoyed spending their retired years in their wonderful community with its many activities and playing host to their whole family who enjoyed the lake and being with them on the shores of beautiful Clear Lake for 45 years. Their home was a model of hospitality and many an evening their large dining room table was filled with friends or family and the sounds of laughter and the feeling of love. Arlene had a deep faith in God and was active in church, school, and community activities in all three places they lived. Notably, she devoted her time to serving in a home for disabled people in Clear Lake now called One Vision, the vision and beginning of which inspired her to write a book, Miracle of the 70s, published in 1974. Following her interests in the unique history of Clear Lake, she wrote and narrated a history of the town used for school classes, reunion get-togethers, and programs for area clubs and organizations. She also led a reading program at Oakwood Care Center where she wrote and read stories about her life on the farm to residents. This work evolved into her own radio program on KCMR at Mason City, called “Remembering the Way We Were”, which she did for six years. She loved telling stories and continued to pass them on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren who learned from her what it was like to live in the Dust Bowl and through a world war. She was known for her Hats program and her potato salad; she never tired of cooking for her family or watching their various activities. She modeled for her family, as for all who knew her, that a positive attitude could overcome any circumstance and she made each person feel appreciated and important and, above all, loved. After Dick passed away in 2013, Arlene lived in the lakehouse until 2019 when she moved to BRIO, a senior living complex in Johnston, Iowa to be nearer to family. She enjoyed happy, comfortable years at BRIO and especially being a part of family activities. She was beloved by her four children, Jan (Jim) Baller of Denver, CO, Jack (Kathy) Lashier of Clear Lake, IA, Sue (Cal) Kolling of Bismark, ND, and Bob (Anne) Lashier of Johnston, IA; ten grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Though she was a teacher, a philanthropist, a radio host, and a published author, she will be remembered most as a loving mom, grandma, and great grandma.