Sister Clare, the fourth of ten children, was born to her parents August and Clara Korte on January 31, 1934. She was baptized Bernice and speaks fondly of growing up on a farm near Pierron, Illinois.
She enjoyed working on the farm. She loved animals and planting in the fields and garden. When she was three, she started counting chickens and ducks. As she grew older, she was trying experiments with both the animals and the vegetables she was growing. It seems like Bernice was always meant to be a scientist.
Bernice’s joyful spirit was contagious, and she worked well with her siblings. Being in nature gave her much happiness, and laid the foundation for her future. She recalls that when her father died shortly after her youngest brother was born, her mother asked the children if the family should move to town or if they would rather stay on the farm. The children said they wanted to stay on the farm. They told her they would all work hard to make this possible, and that is exactly what they did.
Bernice received her grade school education at Immaculate Conception School in Pierron, where she was taught by the School Sisters of St. Francis. Her favorite teacher was Sister Ronalda. Shortly after her older sister, Verena, entered the convent in Milwaukee, Bernice also decided to enter after eighth grade. She completed high school at St. Joseph Convent High School in Milwaukee, and then entered Alverno College and graduated from there. At reception she received the name Sister Clarenne, later shortened to Sister Clare. As her new name implied, she was a light and a joy to be around.
After a short time teaching at the elementary level, Sister Clare requested to teach high school. Her early love for planting and gardening led her to become a biology teacher at the high school and college levels. She taught in Illinois at Madonna High School in Aurora and Boylan High School in Rockford.
Sister was encouraged to get her master’s degree in Biology and then her doctorate, after which she became chairperson of the Biology Department at St. Mary’s College (now university) in Winona, Minnesota, where she spent the rest of her teaching career. In addition to teaching, she enjoyed being invited to many high schools to judge at science fairs. Because of her expertise in teaching biology, Sister Clare received many awards.
One of her joys besides teaching was to travel with her family. It is said that all she had to hear was the word “vacation” and she would grab her purse and jump into the car! Sister Clare also had a gift for, and love of, singing. An experience she treasured was being a part of the college choir when they travelled to Rome to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Gardening was her other strong interest. When she lived at Maryhill Convent in Milwaukee, the sisters enjoyed her homegrown potatoes and other vegetables. After she moved to Sacred Heart, they also missed the many flowers that she grew in front and the pots of flowers that decorated the ramp.
When her sister, Sister Joan, who is celebrating her own 70th Jubilee as a School Sister of St. Francis this year, was asked about Sister Clare, her response was “I am very proud of her!” Now, Sister Clare is spending her days at Our Lady of the Angels Convent, praying and continuing to be a joyful presence as she celebrates her 75th Jubilee!