James Clausen

James L Clausen, age 83 of Ripon, joined our Lord & Saviour on April 14, 2025, peacefully at Prairie Place Assisted Living, in Ripon, Wisconsin. Jim was born on August 13, 1941, in Ripon, Wisconsin, the son of Dwight and Laura (Schroeder) Clausen. Jim attended Ripon schools and graduated high school in 1959. After Graduation, Jim joined the Army National Guard where he served for four years, and for a time was stationed in Washington State. Jim was a true jack of all trades. He farmed with his father Dwight, and brother Donald for almost his entire life. Cows, horses, pigs, beets, grains, vegetables, hemp, and everything else that comes with the life of a farmer, Jim did it. He had talent for electrical work, concrete, construction and was an expert welder. Jim really could do it all. He met the love of his life, Cynthia Kay (Leppin) Clausen. Jim and Cynthia were united in marriage on November 5, 1977. They enjoyed 42 wonderful years together before her passing in 2020. Jim was a member Our Saviours UCC in Ripon. Jim worked for the Ripon Co-op/Feed Mill. He was mostly involved with custom spraying and fertilizer applications. He did mechanical work and drove truck for them as well. While working there, he met and had many good lifelong friends and colleagues. Jim also went on to drive semi, delivering steel all around the state of Wisconsin and upper Michigan, for Block Iron/Alro Steel of Oshkosh. This is where Jim officially finished his career and retired on October 30, 2009, at the age of 68. Jim, not being the guy that could sit still, took a part time job for United Co-op in Pickett, as a truck driver, hauling and delivering fertilizer, seed, anhydrous ammonia, and anything else that came his way. He also helped out part time on his daughter’s farm. He was one of the biggest practical jokers around. Always telling jokes that, coincidentally he was the only one who found them funny. Laughing and jumping up and down with his finger in the air. His laugh was contagious, and once he started, everyone around him was laughing with him. He was always sticking his tongue out for photos, giving people bunny ears or making funny faces. Jim was always making people smile or roll their eyes in as, that’s just Jim being Jim. He was a mentor/second father to his farming buddies/nephews, Chris and Rick Clausen, who he was very close with. Jim was a friend to many of the farmers around Ripon and surrounding areas. Always lending a helping hand when needed, no matter what it was, even if it was resurrecting old equipment that hasn’t been used in years, you could count on Jim to be there. He was deeply involved with his friends from church/walking club, which he always made time for. In the fall of 2012, Jim suffered a life-changing stroke, which put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The stroke may have taken most if not all of his abilities away, but it sure didn’t take his sense of humor. He may have been slower at telling jokes, but you knew when the gears were turning. His finger and arm would raise up, a half grin would appear on his face, his eyes would get big, and the joke would come out. He spent his remaining years playing/telling jokes to his wife Cindy, family members, the nurses at Prairie Place, and anyone/everyone who visited him. Jim is survived by sisters, Jeanette Clausen and her daughter, Airen Clausen; Joanie Kiggens, and her children Leslie (Doug) Hensen, and their children, Nicholas and Alyssa, Jeff (Kathy) Kiggens, and their children Courtney and Cole, Angel (Peter) Cravillion; brother, Donald (Debby) Clausen and their sons Chris (Melinda) Clausen, and their children Eddie and Libby, and Rick (Jen) Clausen; his daughter Lori (Allan) Krueger, their son Brad (Kailey) Krueger, and their children Colin, Coty, and Coltin Krueger, and their daughter Kim (Josh) Schuenemann, and their children Olivia and Austin Schuenemann; and Peggy Mortenson and her sons Adam and Eric Mortenson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cindy; brother-in-law, William Kiggens; parents Dwight and Laura Clausen; mother-in law, and father-in-law, Donald (Betty) Leppin. Family and friends may visit with the family and pay their respects to James on Tuesday April 22, from 9-11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ in Ripon. A funeral service will be held following the visitation at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Rev. Dr. Kevin P. Mundell. The burial with full military honors will be held following services at Pine Grove Cemetery in Auroraville. The family would like to thank Hospice for the excellent care and compassion they showed Jim.

James Clausen

August 13, 1941 - April 14, 2025