Sister Cleo serves up ice cream at Oldenburg store

Article by Sue Siefert

(OLDENBURG, Ind.) -- Having observed Carriage House Antiques’ “Home of Sister Cleo’s Ice Cream” touted on an I-74 billboard … like many who visit the quaint shop, I wanted to know how a nun became famous for her ice cream … in an antique shop.

On a sweltering afternoon in the ’Burg, I interviewed shop-owner Jim Meyer and ice cream master Sister Cleo Werner and here’s their scoop.

First a little history regarding the shop that brought Sister Cleo out of retirement. Jim shared that his wife Carolyn’s late grandfather Roell operated an antique shop in Cincinnati that was destroyed in the flood of 1937 and fortunately was able to move the antiques to safety as he walked away from the business.

Years later Carolyn and Jim began to search through the stored treasures and began selling items at area antique shows. When Jim retired after a 25-year career in education, the couple’s love of antiques followed them from Oak Forest to Oldenburg where they purchased the Peine house.

Jim explained, “We opened the shop in 2012 in our son’s neighboring carriage house. Sister Cleo quickly befriended us as she knew us as Franciscan Associates and she began to help at the shop.”

Sister chimed in, “I was thrilled when they purchased the 1850s bank building in 2017 and suggested that with their new, larger location that they offer homemade ice cream.”

Jim added. “I’m not really a fan of ice cream, but I finally agreed with the stipulation we use only premium, natural ingredients.”

As the history lesson continued, I discovered Sister Cleo is the fourth-born of 18 children to Mathias and Cleopha Werner, and helping where needed came naturally. Never one to rest, at age 82 she left retirement and started cranking out ice cream originally producing a half-gallon per hour, and with the shop’s current equipment production grew to five gallons per hour.

Curious, I inquired about flavors - anticipating the usual vanilla, chocolate and strawberry when in season. Sister corrected me, “We offer Vanilla, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry, Fresh-Squeezed Lemon, Orange Cream, Butter Pecan, Salted Caramel, Root Beer, Cherry Cordial plus our seasonal flavors. We sell it by the scoop in a bowl or cone, or you can take home a pint.”  Oh my!

Jim shook his head and added, “We’ve filled orders for gallons as folks enjoy serving it at family gatherings or corporate events – something I never envisioned as ice cream sales outperform antique sales!”

He confessed, “Originally, I thought we would sell about 40 scoops per month … in reality we sold 68,000 scoops in the first three years and sales continue to double each year. Ironically … two guys from Grater’s stop for our Butter Pecan … and another delivery guy regularly buys 20 pints to take to Ohio – and we have folks who stock up in December knowing the shop’s closed in January! Obviously during the ‘Burg’s Freudenfest its all scoopers on deck to meet the demand for Sister’s ice cream!”

As I toured the historic shop complete with a cashier’s window from days gone by, visitors were enjoying their frozen treats at tables while others dined outside in the charming courtyard. I chatted with a Batesville gal who brought two friends from Kentucky to enjoy their favorite flavors in the courtyard and she revealed, “This isn’t our first sinful indulgence … and we’ll be back for more!”

Sister Cleo boasted that they’ve met visitors from all over the world as Jim returned with a map with tacks denoting where visitors were from and Sister tallied the tacks proclaiming, “To date visitors from 39 countries and 48 states have discovered the best homemade ice cream this side of heaven!”

That’s a pretty strong marketing claim … but hey, she’s a Sister selling premium homemade ice cream in the “Holy City” … I rest my case.

On July 9^th, Sister Cleo will celebrate her 90^th birthday, and also in July celebrates her 70^th Jubilee as a Sister of St. Francis – two very important milestones in the Franciscan’s life.

If you are in the ’Burg, visit Carriage House Antiques and congratulate Sister Cleo on her milestones … and celebrate with some of her famous ice cream!

FYI: 

Sister Cleo has not had the pleasure of welcoming guests from Connecticut or Hawaii – so if you have guests from either of these states, treat them to a little bit of heaven in Oldenburg!