Clausen, LeMoine H. 'Shorty'

LeMoine H. “Shorty” Clausen, 90, passed peacefully to the Lord on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids from complications of age. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown with Pastor David Rempfer officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Interment: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Blairstown.

LeMoine H. Clausen was born Nov. 27, 1918, in Clark, S.D., to Louis and Bertha Friese Clausen. The family moved to the Blairstown area when he was 15. Shorty, as he was affectionately called, worked for area farmers until he joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. He served in the European Theater of Operations, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. He was a prisoner of war from March 1944 to April 1945.

Shorty returned to Blairstown after World War II and married Earlene Myers on Feb. 15, 1948. The couple lived in Blairstown, where Shorty worked for Leo Kelly Co., Standard Oil and the Blairstown Feed Mill, retiring at age 62. He was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church, holding many offices. He was also a member of the Blairstown Public Library Board, Blairstown Businessmen's Club, Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association and the Blairstown and Benton Community school boards to name just a few of his civic activities. Shorty was a 60+ year member of the M.J. Kirby American Legion Post 170. Shorty enjoyed Rolle Bolle, bowling and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinal fan.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Earlene, of Blairstown; their children, Thomas (Pam) Clausen of Stanhope, Jane (Floyd King) Clausen of Lubbock, Texas, Meg (Mike) Geater of Van Horne, Cara (Lyal Jr.) Fox of Norway and Beth Clausen of Evanston, Ill.; grandchildren, Joel (Ashly Nguyen) Clausen, Nicolas (Rebecca Palmquist) Clausen, Rainey (Antonio) Love, Clint Geater, Cassie (Jeff) Huber, Catie (Zach) Reynolds and Anna and Chloe Schmidt; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Shorty was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, LeRoy and Virgil; his mother- and father-in-law, Lena and Earl Myers; and his sister-in-law, Gayle Walker.

Memorial contributions may be directed by the family for various organizations.

Shorty's family would like to extend many thanks to the staff of One West and St. Luke's Hospice.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Shorty and his family.

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