Obituary of Gail Claussen

View Video Tribute Gail Allan Claussen was born on April 2, 1936 in Russell, Kansas to Martin and Agnes (Salber) Claussen. He passed away at Memorial Hospital on September 13, 2006 after a tragic accident. When Gail was 8 years old the family moved to a farm/ranch near Arriba, CO. Gail graduated from Arriba High School in 1954 and attended Otero Junior College for 2 years. In 1959, he married Farabe Smith and to this union 3 daughters were born, Juana, Shelly and Bobbie Jo. The family moved from Arriba to the ranch in Yoder in 1981. The marriage dissolved and Gail married Karol Ranson Trojovsky on May 30, 1992. Gail adopted Karol’s children and Kenny, Kira and Keith became part of the family. Gail and Karol operated the ranch in Yoder until his death. Gail enjoyed working with his black Angus cattle and quarterhorses. His pride and joy was his stallion, Silk Shotgun. Silk was Gail’s “seeing eye horseâ€? when his eyesight began to fail from macular degeneration. They were featured in many local papers and even in documentaries on “Animal Planetâ€? and the Discovery Channel. The bloodlines of the cattle were in the family for 77 years and Gail was very proud of the genetics he had developed with them. Gail always had a joke to brighten someone’s day. He was a practical joker and would stay up late at night to think of new ways to “getâ€? his victims. Few are the stories about people “gettingâ€? Gail. In recent months Gail had started on some new adventures showing cutting horses. He really enjoyed cutting competitions and showing his horses. In his last show he took 2nd place and won his first paycheck on his horse Silk Black Cedar. He was so tickled that he out-cut his trainer. Gail had made it to become a true horseman and will always be in our hearts. As summed up by his grandson, Bo “Everybody loved Grandpa because he made them feel special.â€? He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Charles, and sister-in-law, Peggy Claussen, his granddaughter, Mickey Jo Hajek and his nephews, Jeff Claussen and Buck Spencer. Gail is survived by his wife, Karol, mother-in-law, Leona Ranson, children; Juana (Byron) Hajek, Shelly Wertz, Bobbie Jo Schmidt, Kenny, Kira and Keith Claussen, his grandchildren; Lena, Trenton and Cameron Hajek, Tell, Bo and Sadie Wertz and Kelsey Schmidt. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald (Dorothy) Claussen, brother-in-law John (Christine) Ranson, sister-in-law Janice Ranson (Dr. Richard Halbert) and many nieces and nephews. P.S. Everyone who met Gail “survivedâ€? him! The family requests that donations be made to the Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department 590 North Rush Road, Rush, CO 80833. A memorial service for Gail will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, September 18, 2006 at the Ellis Allen Building in Hugo, CO.