Milton H. Clausen

1945 - 2014

Clausen, Milton H. Age 69, of Elkhart Lake (formerly of Milwaukee) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and two children on Friday, September 26, 2014, after a long hard battle with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). He was born in Milwaukee on April 5, 1945, son of the late Raymond and Agnes (Hlavac) Clausen. He attended school in Milwaukee and graduated from West Division High School in 1964. During high school, he worked at Kissler's Bakery in Milwaukee which eventually moved to Wauwatosa. The Kissler's were an important part of Milton's family life which we are forever grateful to the Kissler family for their diligence and compassion they showed to Milton and his children. Milton served in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1967, during which he participated in operation Broken Arrow engaged in salvage and recovery operations of the Air Force's Lost Hydrogen bomb off the coast of Palomares, Spain. This contributed greatly to Milton's passion for Scuba diving later on in his life. In 1968, he married the love of his life, Susan A. Bilder at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Milton then went on to serve and retire from the Milwaukee Fire Department after 30 years of faithful service. Two key events need specific mention. His active part he played in the rescue/recovery of three miners that lost their lives in a gas explosion in the Crosstown Deep Tunnel Project in November, 1988. Milton was on the team that risked their lives to save the miners. Along with the Deep tunnel team, Milton was also a key player in the development and maturing of the Milwaukee Fire Dept. Dive Rescue Team as an Assistant Director of the Dive Team. Milton loved to experience life from a front row seat. Many things he did focused on people and the outdoors. One of the things he loved to do was the Sentinel Annual Athletic Bike Ride Across Wisconsin (SAAGBRAW). He also loved to collect antiques and teach people about the history of Lake Michigan and the secrets below its surface. All these activities culminated in his passion for scuba diving. He was an avid diver and had his own diving salvage business: Clausen Professional Diving Service and Swimming Pool Repair. Milton found many artifacts in the waters in and near Wisconsin. One such find got him some notoriety in April of 1982, the local paper when he found a 4-1/2 foot iron anchor that was about 120 years old and most likely came from a schooner class ship that was at one time ported in Lake Michigan near the Milwaukee Yacht Club. He is survived by his loving wife: Susan; son: Milton J. (Colleen) Clausen; daughter: Veronica J.M. (Anthony) Fink; eleven Grandchildren: Joshua, Caleb, Megan, Josiah, Sarah, and Alexander Clausen and Jacob, Lindsay, Mackenzie, Ashley, and Sydney Fink; three sisters: Jackie, Ruth, and Hope (Husband Bob); two sisters-in-law: Diane and Georgia and brother-in-law: Alan. Milton is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother: Raymond. Celebration of Milton's Life will be held on the 25th of October with a service from 10:00-11:00 AM followed by a buffet style lunch from 11:15 AM - 1:30 PM. Both the service and lunch will take place at the Salvation Army - Waukesha, 445 Madison Street Waukesha, WI 53188. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to the Waukesha Salvation Army in Memory of Milton H. Clausen. The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Plymouth is serving the family, for online condolences please visit www.suchonfh.com.