Obituary of David Claflin

David K. Claflin, age 75, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at his home on Lake Nokomis, of lung cancer. Dave was born February 19, 1936 in Eau Claire, the only child of Knowlton 'Korney' and Dorothy (Halberg) Claflin. He grew up in Mondovi, where he "always knew" his wife Susan (Erickson) Claflin. Right after high school, Dave and Sue married and moved to Menomonie, where Dave completed undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Wisconsin - Stout, and the couple's first two children were born: Anne (Doug) Gruenewald and William 'Bill' (Sharon) Claflin. Dave's first teaching job (industrial arts and architectural drafting) was in Seymour, and their third child, Timothy 'Tim' Claflin was born in nearby Green Bay, during those five years. Dave and Sue remained life-long friends with the close group of faculty from Seymour, maintaining an annual reunion for the past half century. In 1963, Dave and Sue relocated to Waukesha, when Dave took a teaching job with the New Berlin School system. Their fourth child, Jayne Claflin, was born during those years, after Sue finished Dental Hygiene School at Marquette University. In addition to his teaching commitments, raising a family and helping his wife complete college, Dave and Sue were very active members of the First United Methodist Church. Dave was active in the Waukesha Masonic Lodge, serving as Lodge Master in 1980. Like the Seymour friends, Dave and Sue added to their growing list of life-long friends from the Waukesha church, New Berlin faculty, and Sue's dental clinic colleagues. During the late 1970s, Dave and Sue decided to buy a lot on Lake Nokomis, near Tomahawk, where Dave built (almost singlehandedly) their current home, completing it over several years. After Dave's retirement, the couple moved to "the lake" full-time in 1991, where Dave was able to devote more time to hunting, fishing, and "coaching" the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. During the past 20 years, Dave and Sue have relished living in Northern Wisconsin and traveling the country (in an Airstream) and internationally (Europe and Africa). Once again, Dave and Sue became very active members of the United Methodist Church in Tomahawk, then Church of the Pines in Minocqua, and the Masonic Lodge in Tomahawk, Rhinelander, and Minocqua. Dave is survived by his wife and best friend - Sue, three of his four children (Tim died in 2008), three grandchildren - Jessica 'Jess' Claflin, Megan Claflin, and Johanna 'Jo' Gruenewald, Sue's sisters - Nancy (Jack) Gillette, Mary Erickson, Cheryl Taylor, a sister in law- Joan Erickson and many close friends. A Memorial Service with Masonic Rites for Dave Claflin will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2011 from First United Methodist Church in Waukesha. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday the 9th from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of services at 2:00 p.m. A Memorial Service for Dave will be held 10:30 a.m., with a Masonic Service to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at Church of the Pines Methodist Church in Minocqua. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday the 23rd from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of services at 10:00 a.m. Memorials are appreciated to: The Church of the Pines in Minocqua, First United Methodist Church in Waukesha, the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation, Ministry Home Care in Rhinelander, or the American Cancer Society.