Lawrence Runge Clausen

Lawrence Runge Clausen, the son of Chris and Dagmar (Runge) Nicolaisen Clausen was born May 13, 1929, at his parents' home in rural Exira, Iowa and died December 26, 2019, at his home on that same acreage. He was 90 years, 7 months, and 13 days old.
Lawrence was baptized in 1932 and confirmed in 1943 at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. He attended rural school at Audubon Township #5 and graduated from Exira High School with the Class of 1946. Prior to and following graduation, Lawrence helped operate the family farm. On September 6, 1951, he was inducted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Korea from March '52 to July '53 achieving the rank of Sergeant. While he was in the service, he became a pen pal with a girl from California. Lawrence was honorably discharged on August 21, 1953, and returned to Exira where he continued farming. Lawrence then traveled to California to court his pen pal, Nina Jean Hash.
On June 21, 1955, they were united in marriage at the East Long Beach Methodist Church in Long Beach, California. They were blessed with four children Janice, Joyce, Chris and Jeanie. They lived on and operated the family farm which later became a Century Farm in 2017. Lawrence was a Farm Bureau Director and Membership Chairman. He was an Archer Petroleum Corp. Dealer and County Manager since 1957 and was a Top Ten dealer for 10 years. Lawrence farmed through 2019, specializing in hay for customers with horses.
Lawrence was a life-long member of the Exira Lutheran Church. He taught Sunday school, was a member of the Church Council, served as President, and was a leader on the Dartball League Team. (Trophies available for viewing.) Lawrence was selected to take the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. where he found enthusiasm about being a veteran of the Korean war. He enjoyed 3 trips to Denmark to meet his parents’ families and welcomed them when they came to visit America. He was a good sport to go along with Nina on several cruises, trips to Hawaii (Nina’s birthplace), and family visits to California, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska. Missouri, and Washington State. Lawrence loved to play cards with family and friends, play horseshoes, and was a champion dartball player. He also enjoyed feeding the cardinals and song birds around their home and loved his farm cats. In his later years he took the time to write “Growing Up on an Iowa Farm” about his childhood and “Called to Duty” about his service during the Korean War. Both are available for the public to read at the Exira Library.
Preceding him in death were his daughter Janice Claire Simmons and his granddaughter Elizabeth Grace Simmons who were victims of an auto/train accident; his parents; his brother Thomas Nicolaisen; and his sister Eleanora and husband Emmert Andersen.
Survivors include his wife, of over 64 years, Nina Clausen of Exira, Iowa; his children Joyce and husband Bill Meyer of Lone Tree, Iowa; Chris and wife Denise Clausen of Norfolk, Nebraska; and Jeanie and husband Scott Clark of Altoona, Iowa; his grandchildren: Jessica Clausen and partner Jake Galvan of Omaha, Nebraska; Robbie and husband Chanse Slater of Sanger, Texas; Melissa and husband Brent Burge of Nixa, Missouri; Camille and husband Michael Woodbury of Norfolk, Nebraska, William Meyer of Lone Tree, Iowa; Matthew Meyer of Iowa City, Iowa; David Clark of Santa Ana, California; and Douglas Clark and Carl Clark both of Altoona, Iowa; 13 great grandchildren; his brother Robert and wife Wilma Nicolaisen of Colorado Springs, Colorado; nieces, nephews, his family in Denmark, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Monday, December 30, 2019, from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service at the Exira Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Keith Menter Monday morning at 10:30 A.M. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery, with Military Honors including Taps played by Matthew Meyer. The honorary casket bearers will be Robbie Slater, Jessica Clausen, Melissa Burge, Camille Woodbury, Francine Andersen, Alice Baughman, and David Clark. The casket bearers will be William Meyer, Matthew Meyer, Douglas Clark, Carl Clark, Brian Andersen, and Timothy Baughman.