Sara Marie Rayhons

Sara M. Rayhons, 58, of Clear Lake, passed away December 15, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City, Iowa after a brave battle with brain cancer.

A scriptural wake service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Monday December 22, 2025, followed by a visitation from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave North, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1001 9th Ave. South, Clear Lake, Iowa, with Rev. Josh Link officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery, Duncan, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family which will be used towards an educational scholarship in her honor.

Sara Marie Rayhons, the daughter of Henry V. and Marvalyn (Carolus) Rayhons was born June 15, 1967, in Mason City, Iowa. She graduated from Garner-Hayfield school in 1985 where she participated in basketball and drama. She then attended NIACC and then University of Northern Iowa where she graduated with an elementary education degree in 1989. Sara initially taught school in Cresco, she spent the majority of her career in Clear Lake as a middle school math teacher. 

On July 27, 1991 she married and to this union two children, Jackson Douglas and Haley Marie, were born. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. She enjoyed time spent with family and friends, flower gardening, watching the Vikings, and lake activities-especially the 4th of July festivities.

Sara is survived by her children, Jackson (Emily) Abbas and Haley (Matt) Dannen; three grandchildren, Henry and Adeline Abbas, and Ariella Dannen; three siblings, Carol (Mark) Juhl, Dale (Kelly) Rayhons, and Gary (Michelle) Rayhons; and seven nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry J. and Agnes Rayhons, and Richard and Anna Carolus; parents, Marvalyn (2006) and Henry (2021); and niece, Ashley (2023). 

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave. North Clear Lake, Iowa 50428. 641-357-2193. View Sara’s online memorial at www.colonialchapels.com