Claussen, Rita I. (1929 - 2016)

CLAUSSEN, WEIHS, MAJOR, MCKEEVER, KOSTANECKI, STINN, ANASTASI, WILLIAMSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/21/2016 at 21:19:08

Name of deceased: Rita Isabel Claussen (nee Weihs)

Aged: 87 yrs, 3 mo

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: July 8, 1929; Earling, IA

Died: Oct. 8, 2016; Mrytue Medical Center, Harlan. IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Oct. 13, 2016; St. Michael's Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Husband of 63 years, Jack Claussen of Harlan, IA; children, Jackie (spouse, Garlyn) Major of Council Bluffs, IA, Jeff Claussen of Council Bluffs, IA, Liz (spouse, Mark) McKeever of Council Bluffs, IA, Kathy Claussen of Boynton Beach, FL, John Claussen of Des Moines, IA, Jim Claussen of Harlan, IA, Jay Claussen of Kansas City, MO, and Tom Claussen of Harlan, IA; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; brother, Wilfred Weihs (spouse, JoAnn) of Harlan, IA; sister, JoAnn (spouse, Mike) Kostanecki of Boise, ID; nieces; nephews; friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Anton and Catherine (nee Stinn) Weihs; sisters, Edna Weihs, Bernice Anastasi, and Marilyn Williamson; brothers, Alfred and Louis Weihs

Education: attended Grove Township Country School (Shelby County, IA) and Harlan Community High School in Harlan, IA; graduated with the Class of 1947

Religious affiliation: baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Defiance, IA; member, St. Michael’s Catholic Church and Women’s Circle, Harlan, IA

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Jack Claussen; Aug. 17, 1953; St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Harlan, IA

Employment: After high school, Rita worked as a phone operator and as a secretary while she lived in Columbia, SC and Omaha, NE. After her marriage, she was a farm wife and raised their children; later on, she worked at CDS in Harlan, IA

Hobbies/Interests: gardening; reading; crocheting; embroidering; time spent with family; involved in 4-H as a leader; was a Lincoln Township precinct election worker; after retiring in 1989, they enjoyed wintering in FL, TX, and AZ and spending summers at Lake Okoboji, IA

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com