Kenneth Claussen

Rock Valley, IA: Kenneth G. Claussen, 80, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, June 8 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Kandi Anderson officiating. Following a luncheon, burial will be held at Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Visitation, with the family present, will be Wednesday, June 7 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the church.

Kenneth Gene Claussen, son of Alfred and Jennie (Hendriks) Claussen was born June 13, 1936 on the farm near Rock Valley, Iowa. He attended country school and Inwood High School until his junior year of high school when he quit to help his Dad farm. He often told us he was smarter than all his teachers anyway. Ken was united in marriage to Joyce Stensland on November 6, 1954 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Rural Inwood, and they made their home on the family farm. Five children were blessed to this union, four sons and one daughter. Ken died just as he lived, on his terms, with peace and quiet acceptance that it was his time to leave his earthly home. He was the strongest, most stubborn man we knew and after months of suffering, he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 4, 2017.

Ken’s passions were farming and his family. Having cattle to raise and keep track of was a great delight to him. He could add numbers in his head faster than anyone could grab a calculator. He spent numerous hours watching the crops come up and riding through the Claussen and neighboring cattle yards, spotting sick cattle from his pickup. He worked hard for many years, and his supervising skills were top-notch in his later years of farming.

Ken’s calming demeanor and silent laughter are two attributes he will be remembered for. Neighbors and friends could often be found around the table having coffee and playing cards, unless there was work to be done. Ken and Joyce spent many years playing pinochle with their card club.

Ken was never one to mince words and he raised his family with a silent love and strong hand. When he spoke and made a decision, that was that. It was not odd for his kids to ask his opinion and advice, and he was capable of making them feel confident and secure in their decisions. Ken was not much of a talker but more of a doer. You didn’t put off until tomorrow what you could do today.

His family brought him so much joy. He was always content to listen to all the chaos around him, but quick to let everyone know when things were too loud, at which point he would tell the grandkids to go play on the road. He always wanted to know the daily happenings of his children and that his grandkids were happy and healthy. Laughter and a sense of humor got him through many tough times, which is a legacy he passed on to his family. P.S. he wanted us to make sure you all knew how good looking he was!

Grateful for sharing his life is his wife of 62 years, Joyce; 5 children, Terry (Lori) Claussen of LeMars, Iowa; Danny (Deb) Claussen of Rock Valley, Iowa; James (Patti) Claussen of Garden City, Kansas; Mike (Judy) Claussen, and Debbie (Wes) Kats all of Rock Valley; 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 4 step great-grandchildren; Goddaughter Lisa Stensland Larsen; 2 sisters, Florence Menage and Esther Soltes; brothers and sisters-in-law Marlo and Mildred Stensland, Rose Marie Stensland, Arthur and Rosella Stensland.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Jennie, brother Donald, sisters Anne, Joyce and Evelyn, and parents-in-law Tobias and Inga Stensland.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Rock Valley
1921 12th Street Rock Valley, Iowa, Sioux 51247

Funeral Service

10:30 AM ,Thursday, June 8, 2017
Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Rock Valley
1921 12th Street Rock Valley, Iowa, Sioux 51247