Claussen, Rueben J.

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Funeral services were held in the First Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the North Platte Cemetery.

Died:

The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Reuben J. Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the article had appeared on 12 October 1955 in the Telegraph Bulletin, of North Platte, Nebraska.

     Funeral services will be held Friday for Reuben J. Claussen, 57, prominent North Platte businessman and civic leader, who died Tuesday at about 5 p.m. at his home. He was a partner in stores in North Platte, Kearney and Holdrege; a member and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of North Platte; and member of BPOE 985; American Legion, Rotary Club, the Memorial Hospital Advisory Board, and the North Platte Planning Commission. Survivors include his wife, Louise, three sons, Dr. Bruce F. Claussen of North Platte; Jerry Claussen of Chicago, and Lt. Richard Claussen of Lawrence, Kansas; his mother, Mrs. Jesine Claussen of Beatrice; a brother Lorentz of Beatrice; and two grandchildren Mark Jerome and Dirk Malcolm. Mr. Claussen was born in Beatrice, Nebraska 28 February 1898 and came to North Platte from Grand Island in 1926. He attended the University of Nebraska prior to entering the U. S. Navy in World War 1. He was a partner in O'Connor Department Store in North Platte, the Claussen Shoe Store and the Famous Shoe Store, both in Kearney, and the Claussen Shoe Store in Holdrege. The Rev. George H. Olson of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate at services at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the church. Burial will be in North Platte Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the Adams-Swanson Funeral Home until 10 a.m. Friday, when it will be taken to the church to lie in state until time of service.

Rueben married Fiegenbaum, Frances Louise 12 Jul 1921, Springfield, Sarpy County, Nebraska, USA. Frances (daughter of Fiegenbaum, Heinrich F. and Montgomery, Nellie Blanche) was born 25 Jun 1902, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Territory, USA; died 19 Apr 1992, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA; was buried 22 Apr 1992, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet]

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The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Bruce F. Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the obituary had appeared on 4 March 1997 in the North Platte Telegraph, of North Platte, Nebraska.

     Bruce F. Claussen, 71, of North Platte died 1 March 1997 at his home. He was born 12 June 1925 at Omaha to Reuben J. and F. Louise Fiegenbaum Claussen. He moved with his family to North Platte in 1926, attending schools here and graduating from North Platte High School with the class of 1943. During World War II he served in the U. S. Army with the 192nd General Hospital in England. Following his discharge, he returned to attend the University of Nebraska Medical School, from which he graduated in 1952. He served his internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at Herman Hospital in Houston. On 3 December 1955 he married Georgann Wythers at Lincoln. In 1958 he opened his orthopaedic practice in North Platte, which he worked in until his retirement in 1985. Following his retirement, he continued as a medical consultant doing orthopaedic evaluations until the time of his death. Dr. Claussen was active in numerous civic affairs all of his life. He served as chairman of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Committee and was on the Nebraskaland Days Board and was a member of the Cody Calvary. He received the Dale Studley Memorial Award, the Trail Boss Award and the Cody Scouts Award. He also received a special commendation award from the Rodeo Committee. An original organizer of Rodeo 100, he was a member of the Friends of Buffalo Bill and a contributing member of the Living History Program. "Dr. Claussen was a real historian as far as the Buffalo Bill Rodeo is concerned," said Melvin Hill, chair of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Committee. "Any time I needed information, I went to Doc Claussen." Nebraskaland Days benefited from Claussen's historical interests too. "Probably 99 percent of the memorabilia Nebraskaland Days has is thanks to Dr. Claussen," said Sharon Hambek, Nebraskaland Days Executive Director. Dr. Claussen, riding a white horse, was a familiar sight in many Nebraskaland Days parades and rodeo grand entries during the 1970s and early 1980s. Dr. Claussen also served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce. In the medical profession, he served as Chief of Staff at various times at St. Mary and Memorial Hospitals and Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He compiled a history of the hospitals in North Platte and was an avid supporter of the one-hospital concept in North Platte. "After retiring from hospital practice, he spent many hours trying to formulate a good, complete history of the hospitals in North Platte," said Dr. Gerald Rounsborg. Claussen was the only orthopaedic surgeon in North Platte for many years, Rounsborg said, and was highly regarded. "He was truly a fine surgeon and always had the community's interests at heart. He was willing to help whenever anything needed to be done in the community. He will be sorely missed," Rounsborg said. A member of First Presbyterian Church since 5 April 1936, Claussen had served as an elder. His professional memberships included the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Clinical Orthopaedic Society, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Mid Central States Orthopaedic Society, the Orthopaedic Letters Society and the American Medical Association. Between internship and residency, he was a staff officer in the United States Coast Guard, serving as chief surgeon on the SS America and the SS Santa Rosa. He was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega and Nu Sigma Nu fraternities. Other memberships included the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Lincoln County Historical Society. Surviving him are his wife; two sons, Richard J. (Ginna) of Lincoln and William F. (Jackie) of Liberty, Missouri; three grandchildren, Richard, Bruce and Carly; a brother Richard of Englewood, Colorado and several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents; a brother, Gerald Reuben Claussen, in 1984. Memorials have been established to the American Cancer Society, North Platte Chapter, or to the Home Health Hospice program at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Virgil Taylor officiating. Pallbearers will be Melvin Hill, James Schneider, Chris Mabbutt, Richard Satterfield, Dr. David Johnston and Dr. Gerald Rounsborg. The casket will not be open. Private family committal services will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. today at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Bruce married Wythers, Georgann 3 Dec 1955, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA. Georgann (daughter of Wythers, Roy and Westgate, JoAnn) was born 27 May 1927, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA; died 9 Dec 1999, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA; was buried 14 Dec 1999, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Dec 1954, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
• Residence: Oct 1955, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Residence:
In his grandfather's 1954 obituary, he was identified as Jerry Claussen, of Chicago, Illinois.

Residence:
In his father's 1955 obituary, he was identified as Jerry Claussen, of Chicago, Illinois.

Died:

The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Rueben Jerome Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the obituary had appeared on 16 November 1986 in the North Platte Telegraph, of North Platte, Nebraska.

     R. Jerome Claussen, 59, of Chicago, Illinois, died Friday in Chicago. He was born 1 December 1926 at North Platte to Reuben and Louise Claussen. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1944 and from the University of Iowa in 1948. He was a veteran of World War II as a member of the United States Air Force. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; three sons, Mark, Dirk and Todd; one daughter, Brooke, all of Chicago; his mother, Mrs. R. J. Claussen of North Platte, two brothers, Dr. Bruce F. Claussen of North Platte and Richard L. Claussen of Denver, Colorado. Services are pending in Chicago.

The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an notice for Rueben Jerome Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the notice had appeared on 19 November 1986 in the Chicago Tribune, of Chicago, Illinois.

     A memorial service for R. Jerome Claussen, 59, a commodities broker at the Mid-America Commodities Exchange, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Parkside Room of the Drake Hotel. Mr. Claussen, who lived on the North Side, died Friday at home. A native of North Platte, Nebraska, and a graduate of the University of Iowa, he was also a salesman for McGraw-Hill Company for fifteen years. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; three sons, Marc, Dirk and Todd; a daughter, Brooke; and his mother, Louise.

Reuben married Curry, Jeanne. Jeanne died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Richard's cremated remains were buried in Fairmont Cemetery.

Died:

The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Richard L. Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the obituary had appeared in a newspaper serving North Platte, Nebraska.

     Richard L. Claussen, a native of North Platte, died 10 September 1999 in Denver. He was 67. He was born 15 April 1932 in North Platte to Rueben and Louise Fiegenbaum Claussen. He attended North Platte High School, where he played football and was a member of the team that won the state championship in 1949. He graduated with the Class of 1950. A four-year Regent Scholar at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he graduated in 1954. On 4 November 1954 he married Lorraine Coryell in Lincoln. She preceded him in death in 1993. Mr. Claussen was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and in college he was the yell king for the Corn Cobs Cheerleading. He was a lieutenant in the U. S. Army. Surviving him are three daughters, Courtney and Cameron both of Denver and Gentry of New York City; three sons, Stuart, Thatcher and Chase all of Denver; four grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Georgann Claussen of North Platte; his companion, Martha Kelly; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bruce and Jerry Claussen. Memorials may be made to the Richard L. Claussen Memorial Fund, North Platte High School Foundation, P. O. Box 1557, North Platte 69103. The body was cremated. Services and inurement were 18 September 1999 in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.

Richard married Coryell, Lorraine 4 Nov 1954, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA. Lorraine died 1993. [Group Sheet]

Richard married Allen, Virginia Bernise [Group Sheet]

William married Carlile, Jacqueline [Group Sheet]

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