Velma Ruth Claus

Velma Ruth Claus was born on May 21, 1921 in Honey Grove, Texas, to Rev. G. Christian and Esther (Kaspar) Albers. Velma attended school at St James Lutheran School where she was taught by her father (all eight grades). She graduated from Honey Grove High School and then attended St John's College, Winfield, KS where she prepared to be a Lutheran Parish Worker. She taught school in Winfield and then relocated to Rogers City, MI where she became the first woman teacher at St John Lutheran School. She married John W. Claus December 26, 1943. They were blessed with 5 children: Richard, Anita, Ruth, Margaret, and John. Velma was an active member at St John Lutheran and later at Peace Lutheran in Rogers City where she served in many areas including as a Sunday School teacher, Bible Study leader, Choir member, and Church organist (until age 87). She loved her family and talking about her Savior and Lord, Jesus. Velma enjoyed gardening, birding, quilting, crossword puzzles, writing poetry, and making music. She was a grandmother to 17 and great grandmother to 19. For the past ten years, Velma has lived in Louisville, KY where she continued sewing quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Her faith remained the center of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John, oldest son Richard, daughter Anita, sister and brother-in-law Gertrude and Fred Meyer, brother and sister-in-law Rev. Victor and Anne Albers, brother and sister-in-law Reinhold and Dolly Albers, sister and brother-in-law Irma and Hubert Voth, and brother Clarence Albers. She was also preceded in death by her twin brother, Walter.

She is survived by her children Ruth (Jim) Biggs of Buckley, IL, Margaret (Rev Mark) Whitsett of Goshen, KY, John (Karen) Claus of Tempe, AZ, son-in-law Harvey Hahn of Cary, IL, daughter-in-law Lorene Claus of Tinley Park, IL; by her sister Anita (Rev Allen) Kebschull of Pompton Plains, NJ, sister-in-law, Jean Albers of Valparaiso, IN; grandchildren Carrie (Jason) Stevens, Ruth Anne (James) Laird, Timothy and Joshua Claus, Joel (Kate) Hahn, Sarah (Eric) Kaiser, Rebecca (Nolan) Bello, Amy (Glenn) Jones, Johanna (Peter) Bayles, Christa (Andrew) Overbeck, Aaron (Katharine) Whitsett, Emily (Dustin) Pickett, Katie (Matthew Eisenzimmer) Whitsett, Heather (Paul) Hebert, John-Mark Whitsett, Alexandria Claus and Leah Claus. She is also survived by 19 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services for Velma Claus will be Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Rogers City. MI. Interment will be in the Rogers City Memorial Park. Visitation will be on Monday August 7 from 4-8 p.m. at Beck Funeral Home in Rogers City. There will be visitation at 10 a.m. Tuesday until service time at the church. Memorials may be given to Peace Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund, Our Savior Lutheran School, Louisville, KY, Cedar Lake, LaGrange, KY, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are being made through Newcomer Funeral Home, Middletown KY and Beck Funeral Home, Rogers City MI.

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