Henry "Hank" A. Clauson, Colfax resident, was called home Friday morning, March 10, 2017 at The Courtyard in Colfax, he was 88. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m. at the Colfax United Methodist Church, 109 S Mill Street. Pastor Ed Hamshar will officiate. Hank was born March 12, 1928 at Pelican Rapids, Minnesota to Henry and Ethel Gilbertson Clauson. He grew up in a large family with 10 brothers and sisters. The family moved to Battle Lake, Minnesota and Hank attended school there. He left home at fourteen years of age and hitchhiked to Tacoma, Washington where his sister lived. He worked in various construction jobs for a while and eventually moved to Prosser, Washington. Hank met a beautiful young girl from Prosser one sunny afternoon at the local swimming hole. Hank and Mary Arlene Hanning were married a short time later on October 19, 1945. They made their home in Prosser for a short time before moving to Spokane. Hank was a talented carpenter and did all types of construction work. He worked for Northwest Construction for a time and eventually became a job foreman for the Stevens Construction Company. He left his mark on many buildings and projects in Spokane and around the Inland Northwest. He specialized in the construction of banks, schools, office buildings, and gas stations, including a Texaco Service Station in Colfax. Weekends were spent on various adventures camping or boating around the many lakes in the area. Hank and Arlene fell in love with a piece of property at Priest Lake and spent many years turning it into the beautiful family retreat that it is. He loved nothing more than to be cutting firewood, burning piles, or pruning trees on the property everyone fondly called, "Hanksville". They lived at Priest Lake for 33 years from 1980 – 2013. They invested their hearts and their time at Priest Lake Community Church, even building an addition on that church. He liked riding his 4-wheeler, snowmobile, and taking trips into the mountains above Priest Lake. He enjoyed working on cars, especially the British imports, and would fix them up to sell. Hank loved young people and became a Dad and Grandpa to a multitude of fortunate kids both in Spokane and Priest Lake. After moving to Colfax in 2013, Hank and Arlene worshiped at the Colfax United Methodist Church with Jim and Kathy. His faithful wife of 71 years, Arlene, survives him at the Courtyard in Colfax; also surviving are a daughter, Kathy (Jim) Lemon of Colfax, and a son, Ed Clauson and his wife, Kathy Komonko of Anacortes, WA.; three grandchildren, Jamie (Jill) Lemon of Spokane, Kris (Jim) Kackman, Colfax, and Katie Clauson of Wilson, WY, and five great-grandchildren, Gavin, Casey, and Jesse Lemon all of Spokane, and Alex and Kylie Kackman, of Colfax. He also leaves behind two sisters, Dorothy Pollock and Ardis McGurk both living in Minnesota. He was preceded in death by 8 brothers and sisters.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones" Ps. 116:15
God grieves with us, but He rejoiced that one of His children has entered His eternal presence.
The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Priest Lake Community Church, 28047 Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho 83856 or to a charity of choice. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.