Martha Rae 'Skeeter' Claussen

Martha Rae “Skeeter” Claussen, the daughter of Oral Ray and Vaneta LaVeee (Gault) Roberts, was born October 21, 1950, in Flint, Michigan and died June 7, 2013, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 62 years, 7 months, and 16 days. Martha “Skeeter” was baptized in the Baptist Church. She attended school at the Masonic Home in Dallas, Texas returning to Michigan to graduate with the High School Class of 1968. She then worked as a car hop and also worked at a local bar. On August 23, 1970, she was united in marriage to Frank James Claussen at the Anita Lutheran Church in Anita, Iowa. Martha “Skeeter” was employed at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa in the housekeeping department, then did housekeeping for the Hoegh Motel. Martha “Skeeter” worked in the laundry at the Atlantic Nursing Home and did housekeeping for the Wise Owl Motel. She then started working for Casey’s General Stores becoming an assistant manager and worked in the stores in Adair, Iowa, Anita, Iowa and Exira, Iowa for many years. Later she did housekeeping for the American Best Value Inn until she had to take a leave of absence due to her health. Martha “Skeeter” enjoyed raising both vegetable gardens and flower gardens. She loved being outdoors and enjoyed camping. She was a pool “shark”, enjoyed playing cards, and collecting all sorts of different types of knick-knacks. She also enjoyed testing her computer skills by playing games and communicating with others with her e-mail. Martha “Skeeter” was preceded in death by her parents; her brother; her grandparents; her mother-in-law and father-in-law Bill and Thelma Claussen and her niece Melissa Dawn Claussen. Survivors include her husband Frank J. Claussen of Anita, Iowa, her constant companion, her dog Curly; numerous brothers and sisters; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Sherman and wife Thelma Claussen of Irwin, Iowa, Herm and wife Deb Claussen of Lawson, Missouri, Olinda and husband Jim Krause of Massena, Iowa and Bill and wife Kathy Claussen of Atlantic, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will be in the Veterans Administration Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa at a later date.

Service:
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Mitch Holmes on Thursday, June 13, 2013, at 1:00P.M. at the Anita American Legion Hall in Anita, Iowa.