In Memory of Wilma A. Clausen

Wilma Ann Clausen, age 86, of Danbury, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 4, 2021, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury, Iowa. Father William A. McCarthy and Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery of Danbury, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary Service at 6:45 p.m. and Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury, Iowa.   

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

     Wilma Ann (Wessling) Clausen, the daughter of Norbert G. and Ethel M. (Kurth) Wessling, was born November 7, 1934 in Mapleton, IA. She graduated with honors from Danbury Catholic High School with the class of 1952.            

     Wilma was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a switchboard operator and service representative for five years before her marriage to Norman J. Clausen on February 15, 1958. Norman died January 26, 2007. Wilma was also employed by Willow Dale Care Center in Battle Creek as a certified nursing aid for “26 years 5 months and 8 days” but who’s counting, (her favorite joke) retiring June 28, 2004. At this same time, she also worked as the hot lunch secretary at Danbury Catholic School for 36 years, retiring in July 2007.          

     Norman and Wilma also delivered congregate meals in Battle Creek for two years. In December of 2010 Wilma was called back to Danbury Catholic to serve as the morning monitor to care for early arriving students before school classes began. Wilma returned to Willow Dale Care Center as a resident in May of 2015.           

     Wilma was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury, St. Mary’s Rosary society, prayer tree coordinator, Diocesan Council of Catholic women serving as parish representative for 15 years, Danbury Catholic alumni association serving as secretary, vice president and president. As president she chaired the asphalt removal campaign. She was also a member of Willow Vale golf club, town and county 500 club, the senior center euchre group, and she was an avid recycler.           

     Wilma was proud to be the coauthor of the 100 years of St. Mary’s Catholic Church building history book, as she was the granddaughter of John Wessling, one of the founding members of the building. She was most proud of the seven children she and Norman raised and loved being with them for “a gathering of the clan”. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, visits from them made her day.                        

     She is survived by five daughters, Mary (Bill) Vondrak and their children Matthew (Carrisa) Clausen, their children Jace, Beau, Carli and Derek, Erik and Brittney Vondrak; Cathy (Steve) Dose and their children Corey (Kate) Dose, their children Avery, Brynlee and Camrie and Aaron (Lyndsey) Dose and their children Aspen and Leo; Carol (Tom) Swanger and their son Carter Swanger; Anita (Ben) Watkins and their children Sarah (Christopher) Ridl, Emily (Will) Smith and Anna Watkins; Julie (Randy) Boysen and their children Rachael (Connor) Deen and Katie Boysen; son, Mark (Janelle) Clausen and their children Jared Clausen, his daughter Elise and Nathan (Alison) Clausen; daughter-in-law, Jackie (David) Hoaglund and her children Kallie (Ross) Baldwin, their children Quinn, Brance and Henley and Alex (Becca) Clausen; sister-in-law Janice (Warren) Plummer; and many nieces, nephews, good friends and neighbors.  

     She was proceeded in death by her husband, Norman Clausen; son, Paul Clausen; parents, Norbert and Ethel Wessling; two sisters, Norma Pauline in infancy and Noreen (Richard) Foxhoven; brother, Kenneth (Judy) Wessling; in-laws Julius and Alice Clausen; and sister-in-law Rita (Len) Wessling.

     The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Willow Dale Care Center for the amazing care Wilma always received.