Clara Kinders

Clara Victoria (Marek) Kinders passed away on March 4, 2025, at the age of 96 years, in Frederick, Maryland, after a brief illness

She was born on August 5, 1928, to Michael and Agnes (Truta) Marek, as one of 11 brothers and sisters, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she attended public schools. As was so typical in that era, Clara dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to earn money, help raise her younger sister and manage the household to support her family during World War II.

In 1948 she married the love of her life, Robert Peter Kinders, a highly decorated combat veteran who had served with the U.S. Army in Europe in World War II. She was introduced to Bob by his surviving sister, Doris.

The couple settled into family life with the births of their sons Robert J. and Mark A., both of whom were influenced by their parents to pursue professional careers: Bob, an internationally recognized cancer researcher; Mark, a university senior executive.

Clara enjoyed an unflagging zest for life. Friday evenings at the end of the work week were especially happy times with laughter and special food around the kitchen table. She particularly loved holding family get-togethers with dozens of brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces and nephews in “come as you are parties.” She especially reveled in the annual Marek family picnics that brought scores of family members together for barbecue, beer, softball games, cards, and laughter. She loved bowling and participated in several leagues, winning trophies despite her petiteness.

Although she did not graduate high school, she was always ambitious to improve herself. As the mother of teens, she returned to school and earned her GED, took shorthand classes, and then became an early adopter of computer technology as a keypunch operator. That latter skill whisked her from the factory floor doing robotic work into a stimulating decades-long career with Sears, Roebuck & Company. Her acumen and leadership skills propelled her into a career as the executive secretary to a division head.

At Sears she had the historic opportunity to write her name and those of her family members on the final beam that topped out the 1,729 foot Sears Tower. Like so many inveterate Chicagoans, Clara refused to adopt the new name of “Willis Tower.” And like so many other native Chicagoans, she loved the Bears, Chicago Style hot dogs, Chicago tavern-cut pizza, shopping downtown, going to the movies—and was a complete sucker for White Castle “sliders.”

Her passions abounded. She loved to travel, collect cook books, and carvings of Angels, Butterflies, and Elephants. She reveled in Monet artwork, assembled stunning collections of paperweights and Lithuanian design etched and painted Easter Eggs.

Most of all she was known for her empathy, warmth, good humor, graciousness, and genuine care for others. She was the ultimate “people person” who became fast friends with whomever she encountered.

Clara is survived by her sister, Alice Marx of Chicago. She was preceded in death by her sisters Sophie Marek, Mary Ricker, Anne Barzyk, Adeline Bailey, and Bernice McCormick, and brothers Frank, Freddie, Joey and Mickey.

She is survived by her son Robert and daughter-in-law Patricia in Frederick, and son Mark and his wife Linda of Bend, Oregon. She also celebrated her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Christian, Melinda and Catie of Lawrence, Kansas; Casey and Teresa of Meridian, Mississippi, and their children Cameron, Christian, Vivie, Nate, and Myles; grandson Matthew of Bend, Oregon, and granddaughter Christina Michalowski of Roseville, California.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her name to the Clara Kinders scholarship at Konza Prairie Research Station, Kansas State University.

Clara will be interred in Resurrection Cemetery, next to her husband Robert, who passed in 2000, and near the plots of her in-laws, Peter and Violet Kinders. Details on the services will be announced as they are finalized.