Clair John "Sonny" Seuntjens 1930-2012

SEUNTJENS ORTNER SEXTON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/29/2012 at 20:05:06

Sioux Citry Journal
August 21, 2012

DANBURY, Iowa | Clair J. Seuntjens, 81, of Danbury died Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton, Iowa.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, with the Rev. Dan Greving officiating. Burial will be in Danbury Catholic Cemetery, with military rites provided by the American Legion Carlson-Frum Post 336 of Danbury. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. today, with a vigil wake service at 7 p.m. followed by a rosary by the Knights of Columbus, at the church. Visitation will resume 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong Funeral Home of Danbury and Mapleton. Online condolences can be directed to the family and the obituary found at www.armstrongfuneral.com.

Clair John "Sonny" Seuntjens was born on Oct. 9, 1930, in rural Danbury, the son of Siebert and Clara (Ortner) Seuntjens. He grew up in the area and graduated from St. Patrick's Academy in Danbury with the class of 1948. He served his country in the U.S. Army in Korea as a member of the 538th Ordnance MAM.

On Feb. 6, 1954, Clair was united in marriage to Madelon "Tootie" Sexton at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury. They made their home and raised their children in rural Danbury.

C.J. was always determined to be the driven man and farmer that he came to be. Along with raising his crops, he was ambitious in his career as a cattleman and hog producer. He was a proud organized man that was meticulous about his yard and farm in general. For many years, Clair entered the the Danbury Corn Days corn picking contest and was never beaten. In 1994, Clair retired and moved into Danbury but continued to help his sons and neighbors farm.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the American Legion Carlson-Frum Post 336 of Danbury where he actively participated. Over the years, Clair and Tootie faithfully attended the reunions of his military ordnance at locations from Washington D.C. to Las Vegas, having hosted two such reunions himself. He was a member of the Crawford County Cattlemen and the Willow Vale Golf Course in Mapleton.

Clair and Tootie enjoyed wintering in Palm Desert, Calif., for more than 20 years. While there, Clair had the satisfaction of a hole-in-one while golfing with his family and friends. An avid sportsman, Clair especially enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes. He attended the 1982 Rose Bowl game when Iowa played Washington, went to the Indianapolis 500, and the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Ga. A highlight in his life was when at the age of 60, Clair joined his son-in-law on a tandem bicycle and rode the entire journey across Iowa on RAGBRAI, an event he remembered with a few stories as well. One could easily say that Clair worked hard and played hard.

Those family members left to cherish their memories of Clair are his wife of 58 years, Tootie; three daughters and their husbands, Liz and Tom Vermeersch of Springfield, Ill., Heidi and Ron Reed of Norwalk, Iowa, and Jill and Gary Sailer of Overland Park, Kan.; three sons and their wives, Kurt "Fudd" and Cindy Seuntjens of Danbury, Carey "Pete" and Jenny Seuntjens of Dunlap, Iowa, and Nathan "Barney" and Jen Seuntjens of Denison, Iowa; a son-in-law, Grant Kruse and his wife, Cindy, of West Des Moines; 22 grandchildren, Beth Cornelison, Heather Kruse, Mark and Matt Vermeersch, Erin Forch, Angela Dunn, Amy Hamman, Aaron Bechen, Andy Seuntjens, Nicki Castellano. Mallory Metzger, Makenzie Reed, Jack, Mitchell and Gretta Sailer, Lexi, Madison, Michael, and Anna Seuntjens, and Alyssa, Caleb, and Carson Seuntjens; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rita Dirksen of Danbury, and Helen Kelley and her husband, Gary, of Sioux City; two brothers, Ronald Seuntjens and his wife, Marilyn, of Mapleton, Iowa, and Cleo Seuntjens of Omaha; and many nieces and nephews.

Clair was preceded in death by his parents, Siebert and Clara Seuntjens; a daughter, Susan Kruse; one brother, the Rev. LeRoy Seuntjens; one sister-in-law, Lois Seuntjens; and two brothers-in-law, Ray Venteicher and Joe Dirksen.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Clair's name.