Wangsness, Clayton Elvin 1940 - 2016

WANGSNESS, HJELLE, JEVNE, DREW, LIZARAZO, KAPPES, HUMPAL, HAGEMAN, KIDD, ANDERSEN, MORRIS, CROSBY, SULLIVAN, LARSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/2/2016 at 15:41:29

Clayton Wangsness, age 75, of Decorah, IA, died on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at the Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 1, 2016, Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, 169 Dorchester Drive, Dorchester, IA, with Rev. Alan Hermeier and Rev. Waldemar Gies presiding.

Friends may call after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Thursday morning. The Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah is in charge of arrangements.

Clayton Elvin Wangsness was born on November 22, 1940 in Cresco, IA, the son of Elvin and Nina (Hjelle) Wangsness. He was baptized on Dec. 8 1940 at Calmar Lutheran Church and confirmed on May 20, 1956, at the Highland Lutheran Church. Clayton attended rural country schools and graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1959. He was a member of the National Honor Society, chorus, band, track and football and the Homecoming King. He graduated from Iowa State University in Ames in 1964, majoring in Ag Education. He returned home and farmed with his father and in the fall of 1965, he started the Voc Ag program at North Winneshiek School. He instructed Dwight Seegmiller who became the Iowa State and National FFA President. He also taught Peg Armstrong, who became the first female to become the Iowa State FFA President. Clayton was the State Conservation Teacher of the year in 1968. In 1970, he quit teaching to farm at home, which was too hard to do both at the same time. He was united in marriage to Harriet Jevne on May 24, 1974 (they were introduced by Norma Wangsness at a Sons of Norway meeting) They had three children: Erik, Anne and Jon. He returned to North Winneshiek in the fall of 1984 and taught until June 2002. Clayton joined the Luren Singing Society at the age of 24, serving as secretary and president. He loved singing and the opportunity to travel to Norway in 1969. He received his Diamond Award in 2012 and later that year quit due to his tremors. Clayton served on the Winneshiek County Extension Council, County 4-H Committee, 4-H Farmer’s Home Administration Board, 4-H Adult Advisory Committee, County Soil Conservation Board and the United Way Fund Drive. Clayton was in the Minowa Players first production of “Little Mary Sunshine” in 1975. He was a charter member of the Sons of Norway, serving as secretary. Clayton was a former member of the Highland Lutheran Church and currently the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church. Clayton and Harriet retired and moved into Decorah in 2013. He loved farming and always enjoyed going to the farm. He also loved music, reading, doing genealogy and playing scrabble. Although, his greatest love was for his family and grandchildren.

Clayton is survived by his wife: Harriet Wangsness, Decorah, IA. Three children: Erik (Jenni) Wangsness, Decorah, IA; Anne Wangsness (James Gentry), Kernersville, NC, and Jon (Tessia) Wangsness, Decorah, IA. Two grandchildren: Cael and Kaci Wangsness. Two sisters: Sharon Drew, Decorah, IA, and Rev. Barbara Wangsness and her husband: Rev. Natanael Lizarazo, Austin, TX. Clayton and Harriet’s “adoptive” children and nephews and nieces: Glen (Karla) Jevne, Waukon, IA; Jim (Marsha) Jevne, Lawler, IA; Brenda (Steve) Kappes, Cresco, IA; Roger (JoDee) Jevne, Burr Oak, IA; Pam Humpal, and Duane Hageman Ossian, IA. Nephews and nieces: Benjamin Kidd (Becca Andersen), Jennifer Kidd (Briggette Morris), Alicia Lizarazo (Rod Crosby), Jennifer (Brian) Sullivan, Melissa (Jason) Larson, Josh (Jenny) Jevne, and Zach (Shannon) Jevne, John Jevne, along with several great nieces and nephews.

Clayton was preceded in death by his parents: Elvin and Nina (Hjelle) Wangsness. His father-in-law and mother-in-law: Emil and Hilda Jevne. Four brothers-in-law: Kenneth Jevne, Robert Jevne, Richard Jevne and Patrick Drew.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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