Vera C. Wachter

Vera C. WachterOf Arlington HeightsVera Emma Augusta Claussen was born July 19, 1919 to the Rev. Frederick O. Claussen and Emma Grote Claussen in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The family at that time included an older sister, Cordelia, and two older brothers, Martin and Walter. Younger sister, Ruth was born a few years later in Chicago, Illinois, and the family moved often.She died peacefully 2/11/15. She was predeceased by 2 husbands, 2 sons, all 4 siblings and their spouses, 2 Nephews (John Claussen and Paul Claussen) and a granddaughter (Heather Crusius). She is survived by son Paul Crusius, daughter in law Patricia Crusius and grandchildren Christina and Daniel Crusius, and daughter in law Victoria Hoban Crusius and grandchildren Julian and Melody (Shawn Costley) Hoban and great-granddaughter Alexis.Vera attended Churchville School in Bensenville, IL which was a one or two room school with multiple grades. She then attended Hawthorne Jr. High School in Elmhurst, IL graduating in 1932, and Geneseo Township High School, graduating in 1936. She received her B.S. in Foods and Nutrition and General Home Economics in 1940. In 1941 she completed her Dietetic Internship with Cook County Hospital School of Dietetics. Vera received her Masters of Science in Home Economics in 1952 from University of Wisconsin. She worked many different dietetic jobs in Ohio, Urbana, IL, Wisconsin, Lancaster, PA and Arlington, VA; also working in the Army from 1944 " 1946 as a Medical Department Dietician, 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, stationed in England. It was while working as a cafeteria supervisor at the Student Union in University of Wisconsin, Madison, that she again met the man who was to be her first husband, Daniel Rudolph Crusius. They married Dec. 27, 1947 and lived happily together until his untimely death in 1964. They moved to Germany and lived there 6 years while Dan worked as a civilian for the Army (he had been in the Navy.) His specialty was German language and literature. While in Germany they adopted Carl in 1953 and Paul in 1955 and Vera gave birth to Philip in 1957. Vera"s mother, Emma joined them in Germany for a few years after Emma"s husband died. From 1961 on, they lived in Greenville, PA where Dan was a Professor at Thiel College. After he died in 1964, Vera started reinstating her Dietician"s license and worked 1965-1967 at the Greenville Hospital.She moved the family to Urbana, IL in 1967 and became an instructor for the University of Illinois "Institution Management Division" teaching "Quantity Food Preparation and Service", and "Specialized Quantity Food Production and Management". She co-authored an instruction manual "Quantity Food Management: Principles and Applications". She was also an instructor in the School Lunch Workshop at U of I. She helped start a special education school for her son, Paul along with other parents of special needs children.Vera lived in Urbana almost 40 years. She was an active member of St. Peter"s United Church of Christ. During that time she was a board member of Matthew House, an after school ministry to underprivileged children, and a secretary for the board of Biblical Witness Fellowship.She remarried a retired widower and member of St. Peter"s, pediatrician Harry Ewing Wachter on Dec. 30, 1989 and lived happily together until his death in May of 2003. In 2005 her son, Carl died of Throat Cancer. She moved to Arlington Heights in June, 2006 to be near her son Phil, and wife Patty and their children Christina and Daniel. She enjoyed seeing them grow up, going to First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights every week and attending their plays, concerts and graduations. Her son, Phil died in 2014. She loved living at Luther Village and had a group of friends who always ate together every Tuesday night, celebrating each other"s birthdays. Vera"s large extended families on both the Claussen and Crusius sides had many wonderful family reunions in TN, WI, IL, MO, IA and CO. She was always joyfully serving her Lord Jesus, and loved to help and be of service to many. She lived to be 95 ". In the hospital she prayed that she would love to be with the Lord, unless God had more work for her to do on Earth. Vera will be missed by many.Visitation is Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 1:00 PM until time of Funeral Service 2:00 PM at First United Church of Arlington Heights, 1903 E. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. A reception follows the service. Burial will be Monday, February 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Elm Lawn Cemetery, Elmhurst.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to the church or to Emmaus Homes (where Paul lives) Development Office, 3731 Mueller Road, St. Charles, MO 63301. Funeral Information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.