CLAUSON, Wilma 1917-1999

KLANKOWSKI, BETZ, HEINTZ, CLAUSON, FORDE, PEARCE, BERGAN, BOOTS

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/4/2010 at 08:54:28

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, August 24, 1999

Wilma Clauson

Wilma Clauson, 82, of Spring Grove, Minn., died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999, at Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah.

Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m., at the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, rural Spring Grove, with the Rev. Arndt Braaten officiating.

Burial was at the church cemetery. The Roble Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Wilma (Betz) Clauson was born May 5, 1917, in Mayville Township of Houston County, Minn., the daughter of John and Louise (Klankowski) Betz. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Caledonia, Minn. She attended District No. 90 School.

On Nov. 7, 1936, she married Harry Heintz. They lived in rural Caledonia and were later divorced.

On Aug. 8, 1948, she married William Gerhard Clauson. They farmed in Highland Township of Winneshiek County with Gerhard's sister, Selma.

Gerhard died in 1971 and Wilma and Selma continued on the farm.

Wilma was an enthusiastic, hard working woman who lived with generosity and zest. She enjoyed children, dancing, farming and caring for her cattle and chickens. She was a meticulous and giving person, also known for her baking and cooking.

Survivors include three daughters, Julie Heintz (Alvin) Forde, of Sparta, Wis., Connie Clauson (Joseph) Pearce of Slater, and Carol Clauson (Michael) Bergan of Decorah; two grandsons, Jon (Susie) Forde of Madison, Wis., and Joseph Pearce, lll of Slater; three granddaughters, Joyce (Brian) Allen of La Crescent, Minn., and Johanna and Clara Bergan of Decorah; one great-grandson, Luke Forde of Madison, Wis.; two great-granddaughters, Lydia and Liesl Allen of La Crescent, Minn.; five sisters-in-law, her companion of 51 years with whom she lived and farmed, Selma Clauson of rural Spring Grove, Jarla Clauson of Decorah, Julie (Kenneth) Boots of Dorchester and Helen Betz and Mae Betz, both of Caledonia; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Wilma Clauson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerhard Clauson; an infant daughter, Carolyn Joyce Clauson; two brothers, Frank and William "Bill" Betz; and a sister and brother-in-law, Olga and Earlin Heintz.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.