Craig Clausen

Craig Clausen was a man who brought warmth, kindness, and good humor into whatever he did and wherever he went. Born as Leland—a name he considered to be the "L word"—he worked most of his life as an electrical engineer and retired from Westinghouse in 2017. If you asked him what he enjoyed most about his work, he would say that it was the people he saw each day. After he retired, he had the freedom to socialize throughout his day and enjoyed lunching with friends, working out at the health club, running errands, calling “just to check in,” and surfing Facebook.

Craig had diverse interests and hobbies. He was an avid golfer, biker, and snowmobiler. He enjoyed driving his pontoon, spending hours bass fishing, and the solitude of fly fishing. Craig was especially interested in his Scandinavian ancestry and spent lots of time each day researching on his laptop. He called it "looking for dead people."

There is no doubt that what he enjoyed most was spending time at The Church of the Tall Pines (our cabin on Duck Lake near Hubbard, MN). It was a rustic retreat where he filled his soul with awe at the beauty of the sun rising over the lake, the moon's bright reflection across calm, black water, or the silent stillness of a cold winter morning. The friendships Craig made with lake neighbors were lifelong and brought him great joy because they were not just neighbors; they were family. Through spending his time at the cabin, Craig knew the love and grace of God (that’s why he called the cabin The Church of the Tall Pines).

Craig grew up in the church and continued to have a deep faith throughout adulthood. His favorite part of Sundays was the after-service fellowship hour, where he was able to drink coffee, eat a treat, and check in with friends.

Craig's greatest joy was his family: his wife, Deb; daughters, Ali and Kimberly; and grandson, Bailey. He delighted in hearing them groan as he delivered the punch line of his latest story. He brought them laughter, joy, and most of all, love through his acceptance, encouragement, and devotion.

On February 20, 2025, Craig passed away at the age of 73. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly; his parents, Carl and Agnes (née Friberg) Clausen; his nephew, Tom Clausen; and his niece, Rachel Clausen. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Debra; his daughter, Ali Clausen-Blake; and his grandson, Bailey Blake. Further, he is survived by his sisters, Marilyn Bauer (Dave), Sharon Leslie (Frosty), and El Dora Klien (Jim); his brothers, Paul Clausen (Carolyn) and Jim Clausen (Kathy Schuler); and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at 11 AM at Immanuel United Methodist Church, 10025 Brockton Ln. N., Corcoran, MN. Visitation time will be held one hour prior to the service.