Ione L. Claussen

Ione Louise Claussen, daughter of Anthony and Minnie Jepsen Rosburg, was born in Goodrich Township, Crawford County, Iowa, on March 24, 1923. She passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa, at the age of ninety-four.
As a young child, Ione’s family lived in several places including northwest of Berne, Iowa, eventually moving to Ricketts, Iowa, after her father quit farming. They then lived with Ione’s Grandpa Rosburg for several years, before moving to a farmhouse where her father worked for a local farmer in 1937. Ione received her education in seven different schools with the last one being Morgan #4 near Schleswig where she graduated from 8th grade. Ione was baptized in Christ August 13, 1923, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and was confirmed April 10, 1938, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig by Pastor E.F. Schwidder.
As a teenager, Ione went with a group to the skating rink and that was where she met her husband-to-be. She and Henry Claussen were married Easter Sunday April 13, 1941, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison with Pastor C.W. Schmidt officiating. They started farming on Henry’s Dad’s farm north of Denison and in March of 1943, they bought a farm about one-quarter mile away and Ione began her life as a farmer’s wife with cows to milk, hogs to feed and working in the corn, hay and oat fields. The couple was blessed with the birth of seven children. After her husband died in 1971, Ione continued to live and work on the farm and raise three teenagers while eventually paying the farm off.
Ione was a member of a local Canasta Club for seventy years, and a charter member of Single Lutherans Alive in Crawford County. She loved to dance and especially enjoyed listening and making requests to the Polka Party on the radio. She also sold Watkins products and enjoyed taking pictures, crocheting, embroidering, making quilts, crafts, baking and decorating cakes for her grandchildren and socializing with family and friends. Her faith was a focal point of her life rarely missing a Sunday church service as long as she was able bodied to attend. She was a loving mother and babysat for her grandchildren.
Ione was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, two brothers; her husband, Henry; two daughters, Sandra Claussen and Shelly Huisinga; and one son, LoDean Claussen. Survivors include: one son, Scott Claussen and his wife, Karen; three daughters: Renae Claussen and her husband, Norman Ertz; Karen Book and her husband, Lloyd; and Sharen Kleckner and her husband Lowell, all of Denison, Iowa; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two step grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; five step great-great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.