Norman Charles Lausten

Norman Charles Lausten

Nov 11, 1942 – March 13, 2023

Norman Charles Lausten passed away March 13, 2023, at the age of 80. He was an only child, born in San Francisco to Charles Cecil Lausten and Winifred Chilton Lausten. He was a proud fifth-generation Californian.

Norman’s great-great-grandfather, Francis Drake Brown, first arrived in California in 1846 alone at the age of twenty-three. He joined a fifteen-wagon train from his home in Missouri along with one hundred fifty others. He worked as a scout in payment for his food and shelter. The wagon train crossed over Donner Summit three weeks before the ill-fated Reed-Donner party. He fought in the Bear Flag Revolt under Colonel Fremont. He later became the first Sherriff of Solano County. Then came the 1849 California gold rush where he made his fortune. He made six subsequent trips back to Missouri buying and selling land in many states. In 1876, he settled in California and set up his three-thousand-acre farming operation in Colusa County.

Norman’s paternal great-great-grandfather and his grandfather and two brothers were pioneer rice farmers in Maxwell, CA. Norman spent his early years at the family ranch in Williams, CA. In later years, his family divided their time between the family ranch and their Carmel home, permanently moving to Carmel in 1956. He graduated from Carmel High in 1960 and later attended Monterey Peninsula College.

Norman was a gifted musician, playing guitar, banjo, and fiddle. He inherited his beautiful tenor voice from his father, an opera singer. Singing with the Cypress Aires barbershop quartet and chorus was a passion of his. He came from a musical family; his mother taught piano and organ. His aunt, Jocelyn Chilton, also sang opera and many of his aunts and uncles played musical instruments.

He was a retired mechanical supervisor for the City of Pacific Grove, repairing city vehicles. As an antique automobile historian, starting in 1958, he attended every Concours de Elegance at Pebble Beach. One of his first words at the age of ten months was “car.” He started collecting at the age of four with a carbide bicycle lamp he found in his grandfather’s basement which started a massive collection of early automobile items and many other antique collectables. He built a literal museum in his Pebble Beach home filled with antique radios, books, paintings, posters, headlamps, vintage license plates, sculptures, and other auto memorabilia. He had a great love of cats and dogs.

He was married to Jeanne Richelieu DuCasse the granddaughter of the noted early California artist Xavier Martinez. They spent many years together traveling and enjoying the many vintage car club rallies and picnic gatherings. Norman was a walking encyclopedia of the early automobile up through the 1930’s. His pride and joy were his 1913 Simplex and his 1922 Locomobile. He also had a large collection of early jazz and Dixieland music and faithfully attended the annual Monterey Dixieland Festival. He was also a member of the Monterey Elks Club. He will be remembered as a consummate gentleman and a very kind and compassionate soul.

Norman was preceded in death by his father, mother, and wife, Jeanne R DuCasse. He is survived by his two stepsons, Ken McCreary (Brigid) of Sacramento, CA and Bruce McCreary of Concord, Ca and his step-granddaughter, Sabrina. He is also survived by his childhood friend and devoted cousin, Richard Lausten (Denise) of Carmel, as well as numerous cousins’ family members and friends. The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation for the loving care provided by the staff at Carmel Hills Care Center.

You may post condolences at The Paul Mortuary website. A private family service and inurnment in the family plot in Maxwell will be held later. If you are so moved, donations in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, 198 Country Club Gate, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 or the donor’s favorite charity.