Robert Ehlert Clausen

Robert Ehlert Clausen Robert Ehlert Clausen went to be with the Lord on July 15, 2010. He was an only child born June 30, 1921 to Robert Wallace Clausen and Mildred Ehlert Clausen in Chicago, Illinois. Despite growing up in the depression, he had a wonderful and carefree childhood especially the years in Decatur, Illinois riding his horse Prince and swimming in Lake Decatur of which he loved to tell stories. Many moves during his youth contributed to his never met a stranger personality. He proudly served his country in the Army during World War II (Pacific Theatre) which included special training at Princeton University, After the war he returned to marry his beloved wife Evelyn Nitschke Clausen on January 16, 1946 and spent the next decades raising their three children and being involved in their activities, being actively involved in his church where he was on the church council for over 30 years and was an usher and greeter for many more years, and climbing the ladder at the Celotex Corporation until his retirement in 1982. Retirement brought many trips to other countries and through most of the United States in their Volkswagen Westphalia. He and his wife relocated to Hilton Head Island from Elmhurst, Illinois in 1998 where he again jumped into church work and became the greeter and head usher at Christ Lutheran Church. Along with his devoted wife of 64 years, he is survived by his children: Joan (Robert) Eastlund (Rock Island, IL), Paul (Donna) Clausen (Orangevale, CA), and Janet (Thomas) Maganini (Hilton Head) as well as nine grandchildren: Erik (Kim) Eastlund, Karl (Claire) Eastlund, Anne Cole, Thomas (Wendy) Clausen, Daniel Clausen, Vincent Maganini, Nicholas Maganini, Lia (Robert) Young, and Linae Maganini. Also surviving are ten great-grandchildren: Andrew, Elizabeth, and William Eastlund; Maya and Sean Eastlund; Michael Kaine, Alonzo, and Erick Cole; and Katherine and Jacob Clausen. He will be greatly missed as the spiritual and loving patriarch of our family. A Memorial Service at Christ Lutheran Church will be held on Sunday, August 1st at 3:00 p.m. with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you remember him through donations, in his name, to Christ Lutheran Church or Hospice of the Lowcountry. The Island Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.