Colton Larr Clausen

Colton Larr Clausen was born December 18, 1989 in Denison Iowa, firstborn son to Grant and Janette Clausen. He grew up on a farm north of Schleswig 4 years before moving into town and trading in kitties, pigs, and cows for bicycles and ball games, and a bit later, golf.  He was baptized in Christ at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig and he confirmed his faith on April 25, 2004. 

He attended K-8 at Schleswig Community School and Denison-Schleswig High School, graduating in 2008.  He was active in Boy Scouts of America from the time as a Tiger Cub through earning Eagle Scout Rank on November 21, 2006.   

After graduation, he went to DMACC for Fire Science until he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on February 16, 2010. He attended Basic Training in Fort Benning, Georgia and AIT in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where he completed the Transportation Military Occupational Specialty.

Colton served honorably through deployment with the 425^th Transportation Unit out of Salina, Kansas.  With courage and commitment, he served in Kandahar Afghanistan.  He was honorably discharged on March 28, 2011, and had achieved the rank of Private First Class. He earned several awards and medals in his selfless service, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, NATO Afghanistan Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

Upon return from deployment, Colton had set out for a nonmilitary career and attended Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, graduating from the Powerline Program in 2015. He started for Watts Electric as a journeyman power lineman.  After a little over a year, he traded in living on-the-road and out of a bag and to begin working for Johnson Propane and calling Schleswig home once again. Colton was active in the community, serving on the Schleswig Fire Department since 2017 till present. He was also an active board member of the Schleswig Golf Course.    

Colton adopted the ‘Work Hard—Play Hard’ philosophy.  Golf was always a favorite, and he twice took 1st place in the Schleswig Men’s Club tournament. Taking after his Great Grandparents and Grandparents, he also enjoyed fishing and had many fishing stories to share. Come September, Colton was always ready to trade in the golf clubs and fishing rods for his bow, where he spent most nights sitting in his tree stands taking in the peacefulness of fall and always waiting for the BIG one. Deer stories and the love of hunting were always a topic of conversation within the family. Bow season quickly turned into shotgun and mussel loading season, which was a whole family tradition. Colton enjoyed watching football and was a loyal Vikings and Iowa Hawkeye fan. Trips to Minnesota would welcome adventures on the farm with Grandpa Van.     

Colton had found the love of his life, Kenzie, and together they have spent the last year and a half sharing a passion for golf, hunting, and family.  They both enjoyed time with Colton’s Pointer Lab, Ruger.

Colton passed away suddenly at his home the morning of September 10, 2023.  We are assured through his baptism, his confirmation, and his personal testimony that he is at his heavenly home and enjoying the view and peacefulness. He was welcomed into heaven by his paternal grandfather, Larry Clausen, maternal grandparents, Les and Janette Vanden Berg, and other relatives. 

Family who will cherish Colton’s life are his loving parents, Grant and Janette; sister, Brittany (Cody) and their children, Reighlyn, Graham and Finnley; brother, Cody (Kelsey); paternal grandmother, JoAnn; girlfriend, Mackenzie, all of Schleswig; paternal uncles, Greg (Kathy) of Waukee and Gerrad (Carrie) of Granger; maternal uncles and aunts, Duane (Rosann), Peter, Joann, all of Edgerton, Minnesota, Melvin (Brenda) of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Gene (Thelma) of Spokane Valley, Washington; step grandmother Beth, step uncles, aunts; cousins and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig. The Funeral Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023 also at the church. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a donation in Colton’s name.