Erma Calahan

Erma Klinedinst Calahan passed away on Friday, July 25, 2014 at the age of 92. Erma Iona was born in Tyner, Indiana on August 6, 1921 to Joseph and Ethel Klinedinst. She was sixth of nine children and lost her mother to an illness when Erma was nine years old. She was a graduate of Edwardsburg High School in Edwardsburg, Michigan. Erma put herself through nursing school and became a registered nurse after graduating from St. Joseph Hospital Nursing School in Mishawaka, Indiana. During World War II, Erma joined the Navy in January, 1944. She was stationed at Great Lakes, Illinois and NAS Corpus Christi, Texas as a Navy nurse. She was honorably discharged December 25, 1945 with the rank of Lt. JG. While stationed at NAS Corpus Christi, Erma met Navy Seaman James Doyle Calahan from Kopperl, Texas and they were married August 15, 1945. Jim gave her the nickname of “Browneyes”. After they were both discharged from the Navy, they made their home in Corpus Christi. While busy raising two girls and two boys, Erma also managed to provided ten years of nursing at P & S Hospital (head nurse first floor) and worked several years as an office nurse for Dr. Snook as well as for Dr. William Swan. Erma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim, in 1983, her brothers, Lester Klinedinst, Dale Klinedinst, Forest “Fritz” Klinedinst, Herb Klinedinst, Alfred Klinedinst, Richard “Dick” Klinedinst, Robert “Bob” Klinedinst and her sister, Betty Rader. Erma is survived by her two daughters, Kathy (Ralph) Lesmeister of Odem, Texas and Lois (James) Burnip of Alice, Texas, her two sons, James (Pauline) Calahan of Corpus Christi, Texas and Joe (Debbie) Calahan of Robstown, Texas, nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, and two half brothers, Brent Klinedinst of Ludowici, Georgia, and David Klinedinst of Mediapolis, Iowa. Erma also leaves behind many other family members and friends. Visitation will be from 2 P.M. until 8 P.M. with the family present from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. Tuesday, July 29, 2014 in Sawyer-George Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 P.M. Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Sawyer-George Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Robert Simmons officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be her grandsons; Darren Lesmeister, Joe Calahan, Jr., Michael Calahan, Dean Hatch, Robby Winstead, Robert Pennington. Matt Richmond and Erik Halvorsen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.