Steven Victor Claude

Steven V. Claude was born May 15, 1945, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Dodge, IA. Son of Victor A. Claude Jr. and Carol B. (Calkins) Claude. Steve graduated for Eagle Grove High School in 1963. Graduated from University of Northern Iowa in 1972 with a BA. Served in the United States Air Force 1967 - 1971. Steven served as a pilot for various airlines and retired from airline service in 2005. He is survived by a son, Steven W. Claude of California and Abby Claude of Texas, and a sister, Katherine DiCintio of Colorado.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air ....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor ever eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God

- John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Claude family.