Stephen Claussen

Stephen Craig Claussen, 66, of Iowa City, Iowa, died surrounded by his family on Friday, May 31, 2013, from colon cancer at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Steve was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on October 22, 1946, and although he lived in many places throughout his life, Ricketts, Iowa, was always home. He was baptized at Blencoe Congregational Church on April 4, 1947, and was confirmed at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ricketts, Iowa on March 26, 1961.

Steve lived a full life with German determination and a playful sense of humor. Steve graduated from Schleswig High School in 1964, where he participated in football and band. In May 1967, Steve went into the U.S. Army, serving in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. After returning from the war in December 1968, he attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville where, in 1970, he met and married Karen Gailey of Battle Creek, Iowa. He graduated in 1973 with his BS in Education. That same year, Steve and Karen had their first son, JP. The family moved to Ricketts in 1976, where Steve worked at Farmers Savings Bank. Their second son, Cory, was born that year and Lucas, their youngest boy, was born in 1982. Steve worked at banks in Ricketts and Schleswig for 20 years. Throughout that time, he was always active in the community. Steve served as a volunteer firefighter in Ricketts and as a member and President of the Schleswig Community Schools School Board. He was active at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ricketts, and was a member of the VFW in Schleswig and the American Legion in Charter Oak. Playing trumpet in the Schleswig German Band was one of his great joys.

In 1993, Steve married Barb Gosch of Ida Grove, Iowa and lived in Ida Grove for a time. In 1997, Steve went back to school to pursue his MA in Education at Morningside College in Sioux City. After earning his degree he returned to his true calling, education. He was first a K-12 Guidance Counselor in the Elk Horn-Kimballton School District from 1996-1999 and then worked at Alta Community Schools from 1999-2002.

In 2002, Steve embarked on a life-changing adventure to teach English in China, living and working there for eight years. He taught in the very different cities of Benxi and Dalian in northern China as well as in Wuhan at the Maple Leaf International School in central China. While vacationing in Vietnam in 2008, he met, fell in love with, and married, Lieu Duong. That same year, Steve was diagnosed with the cancer that would take his life. He eventually returned to the United States to seek care with the VA medical system, and in his final year moved to Iowa to be closer to home and family.

Steve fought his cancer bravely for 5 years. He displayed courage, humor and tenacity until the very end. The care he received from the VA medical system, especially the Palliative Care team at the Iowa City VA, was exceptional. He and his family were blessed that he was able to choose to spend his final months at home, thanks, in part, to the compassionate and extraordinary support of Iowa City Hospice and the Hospice Unit at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Steve enjoyed travel, woodworking, riding his bikes, home improvements, cooking, and recently learned how to a quilt, something that gave him great joy and that he was able to do until his death. Steve is survived by three sons - JP and his wife, Alice, and Steve's grandchildren, Justice, Maya, and Stefany; Cory; and, Lucas. He also leaves behind two sisters: Nancy and Carol, and her husband, Bill; and one brother, David. He leaves behind his dear partner, Lieu, and her four children; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty Lou and Paul.

Any donations, made in memorial, may be sent to Iowa City Hospice at 1025 Wade Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 or online at http://iowacityhospice.org/donate/.