Shirley A. Clausen

Shirley Ann (Fesler) Clausen, 88, of Solon, died Saturday, April 1, 2017.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 6, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hills with the Rev. Michael Spiekermeier officiating. Burial will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in rural Hills. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday at the church with a rosary being recited at 4:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service, Thursday. A memorial fund has been established for Pathways Adult Health Center. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Clausen was born July 25, 1928, in Riverside, the daughter of Lyle Jacob Fesler and Elisabeth Dorothy ?Bessie? (Gerot) Fesler. She married Donald John Clausen on Aug. 10, 1948.

She graduated from St. Mary?s High School in Riverside, attended Mount St. Clare College in Dubuque, then taught in a one-room school. After their marriage, she and her husband owned and operated a family farm while raising six children south and east of Iowa City. She worked alongside her husband, whether on field work or livestock. She was a resourceful cook who could make a meal from anything, and had a natural talent for quilting, sewing and needlework. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed playing cards.

Surviving are five children, Lucille Parker and husband Mike of Hills, Mary Jane Clausen of Riverside, Jean Donohue and husband Mike of Iowa City, William Clausen and Moe Rogers of Hills, and Eileen Stumpf and husband Mike of Hills; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Philbin of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and two sisters-in-law, Alice Smith and husband Cecil of Iowa City, and Geraldine Clausen of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald; one son, John; four sisters, Marie Reed, Marjorie Walsh, Wilma Buline, and Marilyn Eagle; and one brother-in-law, Christian Clausen.