Donald Francis Clasen

Don Clasen was born September 13, 1930 in Davenport, Iowa. He was the son of Hugo A. and Florence S. Clasen. Don graduated From Davenport Central High School and served four years in the Navy before attending the University of Iowa for 2 years.

He married Lucille (Lucy) Granger in Rock Island, IL on August 30, 1959. They have 2 children, both married: Donna S. Clasen (Greg Rogers) and David A. Clasen (Debbie Aitken).

Don started his working career at the Davenport Democrat Newspaper and like many journalists he soon moved on to a larger paper. He worked for the Rock Island Argus for many years before being hired by the Des Moines Register where he worked 18 years—the last years with the sister afternoon paper the Des Moines Tribune, where he was a Sports Editor. He always enjoyed sports and liked working in this area.

When the newspaper downsized Don became the Editor of Peoria Area Community Newspaper Group but left to join his wife, Lucy who had accepted a move to Milwaukee, WI working for P.A. Bergner and Company. There Don worked for the Milwaukee Sentinel before accepting a position as Business Editor and Senior Editor at the Hartland, WI, Community Newspaper Chain.

A few of the highlights of his career include a trip to the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) in Houston, TX, early in the space program allowing him to write a series of articles with pictures of NASA activities. He met several of the astronauts and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. While working in Des Moines he pitched for “The Big Peach” softball team which participated in a league. He continued pitching until eventually doing so with a group of young players in a Hartland, WI league into his 60’s.

Raising a family with Lucy was the highlight of his personal life. He enjoyed being a father and appreciates his successful children. He tremendously enjoyed two trips to the British Virgin Islands given to us by our son and daughter-in-law. The first one was a 9-day trip aboard “The Life” a catamaran located at Tortola which included daughter Donna. We sailed around many islands in the beautiful azure blue sea. Then later a second trip was made to the new house on Tortola and again we had an amazing time in this beautiful area.

In his lifetime, Don enjoyed sports a lot. Hockey became the one in which he and his wife became investors in a Jr. A team in Des Moines, Iowa. He ran the clock for all the games. When moving to Chicago he became an avid fan of the Blackhawks and saw them win 3 Stanley Cups and they provided many years of enjoyment for him.

Don enjoyed his four years in the US Navy and he served aboard the USS Cogswell during the Korean Conflict. The crew took the ship out of “mothballs” as it had been stored since World War II. He enjoyed cruising the Mediterranean and ports of call included Edinburgh, Scotland; Dover, England as well as Istanbul, Turkey; Athens

and Salonika, Greece; Naples and Venice, Italy; Trieste, Gibraltar and Cannes, France. When the ship went into the Boston Naval yards for repairs, Don was transferred to Commander Destroyer Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet aboard the destroyer USS Yosemite where he was assigned to the Personnel Office. His tour of duty was one of which he spoke fondly.