Donald Paul Claussen

Donald Paul Claussen was born on July 29, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He died on February 25, 2026, in Burnsville, Minnesota at the age of 90.

He graduated from Lutheran High School in Milwaukee in 1953. He attended Valparaiso University in Indiana from 1953 to1957 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business. He attended Valparaiso Law School from 1957-1960 where he received his Juris Doctorate. More importantly, it was at Valparaiso that he met Heather Helterhoff and began a romance that would span his lifetime. They were married in 1960.

He served in the Army National Guard from 1958-1964 rising to the rank of Sergeant.

He practiced as a title insurance lawyer at Chicago Title and Trust for 2 years but then felt the call to serve God in Lutheran ministry. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois from 1963-1967, receiving his Master of Divinity degree. He pastored Lutheran churches in Evansville, Indiana and River Falls, Wisconsin until 1972.

At that time, he transitioned back to being a real estate and title insurance lawyer while still maintaining his ministry as a Christian teacher and counselor, and for a period of time as the pastor of Hand of God Church in Hudson, Wisconsin.

He joined Attorney's Title Guaranty Fund in 1991 and as an Executive Vice President practiced title insurance law until he (finally) fully retired in 2023 at the age of 87.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Heather Claussen; His children Mark (ex-wife Tammy), Philip (wife Beth), Anne Chant (ex-husband David), and Jonathan (wife Amy); 21 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Ella Claussen, his brother Howard Claussen, and his great granddaughter, Lucy.

He loved to play games, hunt and fish, cheer on the Vikings and the Timberwolves, and be with people. He loved to laugh and make others laugh and was well known for his quips and jokes. Providing, encouraging, and having a servant's heart was at the center of his personality. He lived for the times he could be together with his family and always, always to be with Heather. Most of all, he loved Jesus and wanted all of those around him to know that Divine Love for themselves.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of Don Claussen at Bethel's Rock Church, in Farmington, MN, on Monday, March 16, 2026. The service will begin at 11:00 AM and a luncheon reception will follow.

Memorial contributions can be made out to the "The Heather Claussen Family" and will be donated to some of the charitable organizations that Don supported.