Ferne Ellen Claus

November 29, 2019

Service Details

Ferne Ellen (Gagnon) Claus was born on January 11, 1924, in Dixfield, Maine, to Phillip and Winnifred (Blaisdell) Gagnon. She was the first sibling in her family to graduate from high school where she excelled as an all-star shortstop (“shotshop”) on the softball team in Mexico, Maine.

Ferne married Arthur Burdette Claus in 1943. She retired after 25 years of working for Iowa Des Moines National Bank and Norwest Bank. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 74 years. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinal fan.

Ferne was very selfless, always giving and helping others. Her volunteer efforts were many: managing Little League concessions, serving as a church greeter, preparing after-choir dinners, arranging flowers for the gift shop at Mercy Hospital, and greeting donors and providing refreshments at the LifeServe Blood Center for 25 years. Ferne was a talented knitter and liked making afghans and gifting them.

Ferne looked forward to spending the winter months in California with her daughter, grandchildren, and especially her two great-grandchildren where she was known as Gigi.

She recently moved from her home in Des Moines to an assisted-living facility in Ames to be close to her son and daughter-in-law. She didn’t hesitate to make friends during the month she lived there.

Ferne passed away on Friday, November 29, 2019 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa at the age of 95. All who knew her will miss her pleasant, generous, and caring spirit.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Allen) Luger; son, Larry (Diana) Claus; grandsons, Isaac Luger and Noah (Melissa) Luger; and great-grandchildren, Jett and Norah Luger.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, and four brothers. When her husband, Arthur, died in 2011, they had been married 68 years after a 2-week courtship, and now they are together again.

A memorial celebration will be held in the Chapel at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines on Saturday, December 14th at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to LifeServe Blood Center in Des Moines in loving memory of Ferne.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print