Melvin "Mel" C. Claussen

Melvin "Mel" Claus Claussen, 90, of Sioux City, passed away Friday, May 12, 2017, at a local nursing home.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3404 S. Lakeport St., in Sioux City. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Hillside Cemetery, Lester, Iowa, with military rites. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Mel was born in Lester, on Aug. 3, 1926, the son of Claus and Elsie (Wulf) Claussen. He graduated from Lester High School in 1944. Mel served his country during World War II from December 1944 to May 1947, in Leyte, Philippines and then Japan.
He married Grace Vercella Lauck in Lester on May 24, 1949. He moved with his family to Sioux City in 1957. In 1993, Vercella passed away after 44 years of marriage. Mel married Barbara Curry in June 1995.
He enjoyed his retirement and meeting with different groups of men each morning for fellowship. He also enjoyed traveling by car, bus, train, plane, and cruise ship. He was a member of the Lion's Club, American Legion Posts 683 in Lester and 697 in Sioux City.
Those surviving him are his wife, Barbara; three children, Sheila (LaMar) McQuerry, Sheryl Naso, and Jeffrey Claussen; three stepchildren, Wanetta (Pat) Walker, Dudley Curry Jr., and Glenn (Julia) Curry; three sisters, Anna Marie Black, Una Mae Hopper, and Lucy Smith; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Grace Vercella; brother, Maynard (Opal) Claussen; sister, Dorothy (Mel) Carlson; brothers-in-law, Ed Black, Billy Joe Hopper, and Ray Smith; and son-in-law, John Naso.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport, Sioux City, IA 51106 or Care Initiatives Hospice, 4301 Sergeant Road, Suite 110, Sioux City, IA 51106.