Claussen, Bruce F.

Male 1925 - 1997  (71 years)


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  • Name Claussen, Bruce F. 
    Born 12 Jun 1925  Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Died 1 Mar 1997  North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3

    • 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.
    Person ID I441  Fiegenbaum
    Last Modified 18 Jan 2009 

    Father Claussen, Rueben J.,   b. 28 Feb 1898, Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Oct 1955, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years) 
    Mother Fiegenbaum, Frances Louise,   b. 25 Jun 1902, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Territory, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Apr 1992, North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years) 
    Married 12 Jul 1921  Springfield, Sarpy County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5, 6, 7

    •      The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of a notice of the wedding of Reuben J. Claussen and Frances Louise Fiegenbaum. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the article had appeared on 14 July 1921 in the Springfield Monitor, of Springfield, Nebraska.

           Out-of-town guests attending the Claussen-Fiegenbaum wedding Tuesday evening were Mrs. R. P. Claussen, mother of the groom and Don Van Arsdale, Beatrice; Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Fiegenbaum and Miss Martha Fiegenbaum, Lincoln; Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Fiegenbaum and daughter, Frances, and little son, Billy of Geneva, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Miller, daughters Kathryn, Wilma and son, of Wathena, Kansas; Mrs. S. O. Lovell and daughter Genevieve of Lincoln and Mr. Paul Griswold of Omaha.

           The following notice was published in the Sunday World-Herald, of Omaha, Nebraska, on 10 July 1921, in a column titled "In Cupid's Net."

      Claussen-Fiegenbaum.

           The wedding of Miss Louise Fiegenbaum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Fiegenbaum of Springfield, Neb., and Reuben J. Claussen of Beatrice, will take place Tuesday evening at the home of the bride's parents. Miss Fiegenbaum, who is an accomplished pianist, is well known here, where she has often visited. Mr. Claussen is a University of Nebraska graduate. The couple will be at home at Beatrice after a honeymoon trip to the Minnesota lakes.
    Residence (family) Dec 1954  North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    • In her father's 1954 obituary, she was identified as Mrs. Reuben J. Claussen, of North Platte, Nebraska.
    Family ID F152  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Wythers, Georgann,   b. 27 May 1927, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Dec 1999, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
    Residence (family) Dec 1954  Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    • In his grandfather's 1954 obituary, he was identified as Dr. Bruce Claussen, of Houston, Texas.
    Residence (family) Oct 1955  North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Married 3 Dec 1955  Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    Residence (family) Apr 1992  North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12
    • In his mother's 1992 obituary, he was identified as "Dr. Bruce F." and his wife as "Georgann," of North Platte, Nebraska.
    Children 
    +1. Claussen, Richard J.
    +2. Claussen, William F.
    Last Modified 6 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F2128  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 127, 150.
      Bruce F. Claussen, child of Reuben J. Claussen and Frances Louise Fiegenbaum, was born on 12 June 1925 at Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

    2. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 127, 150.
      Bruce F. Claussen died on 1 March 1997 at North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska.

    3. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), page 151.
      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.

    4. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), page 127.
      Reuben J. Claussen and Frances Louise Fiegenbaum were married on 12 July 1921 at Springfield, Sarpy County, Nebraska.

    5. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 126-127.
      A transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Frances Louise (Fiegenbaum) Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the article had appeared on 21 April 1992 in the North Platte Telegraph, of North Platte, Nebraska.
           "On 12 July 1921 she married Reuben J. Claussen at Springfield."

    6. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), page 127.
      A transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an of the weddign of Reuben J. Claussen and Frances Louise Fiegenbaum. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the article had appeared on 14 July 1921 in the Springfield Monitor, of Springfield, Nebraska.
           "Out-of-town guests attending the Claussen-Fiegenbaum wedding Tuesday evening...."

    7. [S211] Article or notice, "Claussen-Fiegenbaum." 1921.
      Sunday World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Sunday, 10 July 1921; Page E2, Column 4. Digital copy accessed in August 2014.
           "The wedding of Miss Louise Fiegenbaum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Fiegenbaum of Springfield, Neb., and Reuben J. Claussen of Beatrice, will take place Tuesday evening at the home of the bride's parents...."
           Tuesday, the day of the marriage, was 12 July 1921.

    8. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 83-84.
      A transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Henry Fiegenbaum. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the obituary had appeared on 9 December 1954 in the Springfield Monitor, of Springfield, Nebraska.
           "He is survived by ...two daughters, Mrs. Reuben J. Claussen of North Platte and Mrs. Clyde W. Martin of Omaha;...."

    9. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 83-84.
      A transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Henry Fiegenbaum. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the obituary had appeared on 9 December 1954 in the Springfield Monitor, of Springfield, Nebraska.
           "He is survived by ...five grandchildren: ...Dr. Bruce Claussen of Houston, Texas,...."

    10. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), page 127.
      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.
           "Survivors include ...three sons, Dr. Bruce F. Claussen of North Platte; Jerry Claussen of Chicago, and Lt. Richard Claussen of Lawrence, Kansas...."

    11. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), page 150.
      Bruce F. Claussen and Georgann Wythers were married on 3 December 1955 at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.

    12. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 126-127.
      A transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Frances Louise (Fiegenbaum) Claussen. Gretchen Leenerts reported that the article had appeared on 21 April 1992 in the North Platte Telegraph, of North Platte, Nebraska.
           "Survivors include two sons, Richard L. of Denver, Colorado and Dr. Bruce F. and wife Georgann of North Platte...."