Barbara Claus

MOUNT VERNON — Barbara W. Claus, 92, of Mount Vernon, formerly of Ottawa, died at 7:50 a.m. Thursday, May 12, at her home in Mount Vernon.

Born Tuesday, Aug. 7, 1923, in Granville to John H. Sr. and Barbara (Haws) Whitaker, she married Ralph H. Claus July 21, 1945, in Granville. He preceded her in death on Dec. 18, 2001.

In honor of Ms. Claus' wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at the United Church of Christ in Ottawa. Interment of ashes will be in the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery in Ottawa.

Surviving are one son, John F. Claus, and his wife, Judith Hyman, of Ithaca, N.Y.; one daughter, Sally Gessner, and husband, Todd, of Mount Vernon; two grandchildren, Brant Gessner, and his wife, Jamie, of Atlanta, Ga., and Heather Owens, and husband, Jason, of Mount Vernon; six great-grandchildren, Hannah and Evan Owens, and Ella, Anna, Jackson and Samuel Gessner; her special caregiver, Cathlene Boykin of Mount Vernon; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband and one brother, John H. Whitaker Jr., preceded her in death.

Barbara was a homemaker for 23 years and an elementary teacher for 14 years. She was raised in Granville in the country on Silverspoon Road. She attended Hopkins High School for two years and graduated from LaSalle-Peru High in 1941 and Carleton College of Northfield, Minn., in 1945. She spent a summer session during the war years at the University of Wisconsin and another at Iowa State University. On July 21, 1945, she married Ralph H. Claus of the U.S. Army and they established a home in Ottawa the following year. It remained their permanent residence for 58 years.

Barbara served many community organizations in her lifetime, including the local tennis club, president of the PTA at the public school, community concerts, Illinois Valley Symphony, Camp Fire Girls, and a very active member of United Methodist Church in Ottawa involved in various activities in the church. She organized and directed as a volunteer the first three years of swim teams at the new YMCA. She served a term on the Reddick’s Library Board. After her children left home, Barbara returned to Northern Illinois University to become fully certified to teach elementary school. She taught for 14 years at Deer Park School when Ralph retired from work at the First National Bank in Ottawa. Barbara and Ralph did some travel, but settled on a winter residency in Punta Gorda, Fla., so Barbara could play on tennis teams and work as a volunteer one full day a week at the Sallie Jones public school.

She was a member of the Ottawa Boat Club, Community Hospital Reddick Mansion Society, LaSalle County Genealogy Guild, Putnam County Historical Society, Burnt Store Presbyterian Church of Punta Gorda, Fla., Monday Club and PEO, United Church of Christ of Ottawa and Logan Street Baptist Church of Mount Vernon. In 2003, she moved to Mount Vernon to be near her daughter and family. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren participate in sports, school and church.

Because of her love of education, for those who wish, memorials may be given to Deer Park Education Foundation at 2350 East 1025th Road, Ottawa, IL 61350 and Ottawa Township High School at 211 E. Main St., Ottawa, IL 61350 (Please note on bottom of check: Barbara Claus Memorial Fund) and can be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mount Vernon, IL 62864.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home where you may call 618- 242-3348 or visit www.hugheyfh.com for further information and to send condolences.