Robert W. Clauss

Robert W. Clauss, of Mount Prospect, Illinois was killed in an automobile accident on Sunday morning, May 18, 2025. He was 71.
Robert was born in Delran Township, New Jersey, on August 31, 1953. He attended Rutgers University, and after a stint in Michigan, moved to the Chicago area in 1987. He was formerly National Sales Manager at Randell Corp, but in 1997, he joined his wife's business, Becky & Company, and later co-founded Crash Candles with her in a partnership that continued to his death.
Robert was a gentleman...and a gentle man. But he also possessed a traveler's spirit, a boundless curiosity, and enormous energy which was channeled into diverse interests and nonprofit work over the years.
At Stillman Nature Center, Robert served as a board member and tireless volunteer. He had a special interest in raptors, having attended classes at the Illinois Raptor Camp in Decatur, and was especially drawn to Stillman's peregrine falcon. He enjoyed conducting educational programs with the public and participated in bird banding efforts.
A lover of all animals, Robert was involved in rescue transports for dogs, cats, and the aforementioned raptors. If an animal needed help, he was your man! In addition, he volunteered, along with Becky, in trap-neuter-release programs and took in many cats over the years, both domesticated and feral, gaining their trust and nursing them back to health.
Robert was involved in many charitable activities. Most recently, his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (second only to Alzheimer's among neurological disorders) represented a huge opportunity. Where other people might see a wall, Robert saw a door, and over the last two years he and Becky learned all they could about PD. By himself or with Becky, Robert participated in multiple Parkinson's studies, enduring lumbar punctures and endless examinations in the furtherance of research that was unlikely to help him, but would benefit others in the future. He made many friends in his PD support group, friends who will no doubt miss his optimism and humor.
Robert's work and restless spirit took him all over the world and the States, most recently to Alaska where he took in the Northern Lights and dogsledded with Becky and nephew Clayton Truman. He and Becky took their restored Airstream trailer to campsites near and far – sometimes on the spur of the moment. He was always up for a trip, especially when it involved racing and crewing cars and motorcycles with his son Ben. Together, they traveled to tracks from Road America to Daytona. At first, Robert's
efforts were confined to helping Ben in the pits, but soon he was pursuing his own racing credentials on Ben's Triumph and soon after on his own TZ125, they continued to share their passion for motorcycle racing for many years.
Robert had a lifelong passion for automobiles of all kinds: acquiring them, restoring them, and driving them with other afficionados. Robert and Becky's garage was always full of interesting vehicles – from his 1967 Vespa, Yamaha, BMW, and Honda motorcycles to Peugeots, Mercedes, and VWs. Especially beloved were his Alfa Romeos. He was a long-time member and past president of the Chicago Alfa Romeo Owners Club, and had just attended a CAROC event the morning he died.
The son of Bob and Alice (Evering) Clauss (deceased), Robert is survived by his wife of 38 years, Rebecca J. Corzilius; two children, Benjamin Clauss (of Chicago) and Season Clauss; brothers Kurt (Gloria) Clauss and Jack (Nathy) Clauss; and sisters Carol (David Rosen) and Kris (Steve Bigwood); and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be sorely missed by his beloved animals, his family, and also by the neighbors whose driveways he cleared, cars he jumped, and days he made brighter.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation (michaeljfox.org) or Stillman Nature Center (stillmannc.org). For information, please call the funeral home at 847-699-9003 or visit www.glhillsfuneralhome.com.
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