Obituary Record

Claude C. Van Deusen
Died on 7/18/1933
Buried in Blair Cemetery

C. C. VanDeusen Died Suddenly

Rites For Prominent Resident Will Be Held On Friday

Claude C. VanDeusen, resident of Blair for the past 59 years and a prominent figure in civic enterprises throughout his lifetime, died at his home on West Davis avenue, Tuesday morning, July 18th, at 6:45 o’clock following a heart attack. For years Mr. VanDeusen had been a sufferer from diabetes and heart disease and in 1930 he spent several months in the Veterans hospital in Lincoln. On the Wednesday preceding his death he suffered a heart attack while down town and his condition gradually became weaker.

Born at Beverly, Washington county, Ohio, February 20, 1869, Mr. Van Deusen came to Washington county, Nebraska, with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Garret S. Van Deusen, when almost five years of age, settling on a farm on the Papio, five miles west of Blair. He grew to manhood there, attending the Brewster school. Later he attended college at Shenandoah, Iowa, and Fremont Normal.

Mr. VanDeusen went into partnership with the late Dr. W. H. Pruner, sr., in the drug business at Kennard, but when his parents moved to Blair he went on the old farm, in the spring of 1901, shortly after his marriage to Miss Josie McMurtrie on December 19, 1900.

Mr. VanDeusen was always intensely patriotic and was one of the first to enlist in the Spanish-American war, on May 10, 1898, with Co. L of the Second Nebraska, under Col. Stotsenberg. When Co. E of the Third Nebraska was formed and his brother, Don C. VanDeusen, was made commander, he was transferred to the Third, then in command of Col. W. J. Bryan, who signed his discharge papers.

Always interested in politics, Mr. VanDeusen served many times as county chairman of the Democratic party and was twice elected to the state house of representatives, serving in 1913 and 1915.

Likewise, Mr. VanDeusen served for several years as a member of the Washington County Fair association, was president of the county farm bureau and was the first president of the Blair Cooperative creamery association.

He was raised to the “sublime degree of a Master Mason” in John S. Bowen Lodge, No. 232, of Kennard, in 1895, and for several years had worn the badge as being the oldest member of that lodge, which he served in most of the offices, including Master. He was a member of Adoniram chapter and Jordan commandery here and of Tangier Temple, I.M.S., in Omaha. He had served as commander of the Knight Templars here and was considered exceptionally well posted on all Masonic work. He will be given a Masonic burial by his home lodge, with pallbearers and an escort of Knight Templars from Jordan commandery.

After spending 26 years on the farm he moved to Blair in February, 1927, and for a year was in the filling station business, but failing health compelled him to give up active business.

Mr. VanDeusen was an ardent baseball fan and his interest in the sport was heightened by the activity of his son, George, in the national sport. It was not surprising, friends say, that his last words were: “The ball game is over; it is time to go home.”

Surviving Mr. VanDeusen are his widow, two sons, George H. of Blair, and Earl G. who is serving in the submarine division of the U.S. navy at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, and one daughter, Leota, now Mrs. Leo McCormick, of Blair. Also surviving are two brothers, Don C. of Blair and H. G. of Kennard, and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Kasbohm of Dunbar, Nebr., and Mrs. Don J. Gammel of Tekamah. A half brother, John A. Chamberlain of Los Angeles, and one grandchild, Ruth Anne VanDeusen, also survive.

A short funeral service will be held Friday at the family home on Davis avenue at 2:15 o’clock for the family and public funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at 2:30 o’clock. Rev. Arthur F. Newell and Rev. W. H. Jackson will officiate and burial will be in the Blair cemetery.

Enterprise 20 July 1933

C. C. Van Deusen Called Tuesday

C. C. Van Deusen Well Known In Political And Lodge Circles Succumbs To Diabetes And Heart Trouble

Spanish War Veteran

Born at Beverly, Washington Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 1869, and came to Washington Co, Nebr. with his parents, the late Garret S. Van Deusen and wife, when almost five years of age, settling on a farm on the Papio, five miles west of Blair. He grew to manhood there and attended the Brewster school. He attended college at Shenandoah, Ia., until that institution burned down, being transferred to the Fremont Normal for the balance of the year.

He went into partnership with the late Dr. W. H. Pruner, Sr., in the drug store in Kennard, but when his parents moved to Blair he went onto the old farm in the spring of 1901, shortly after his marriage to Miss Josie McMurtrie on Dec. 19th, 1900.

He was always intensely patriotic and was one of the first to enlist in the Spanish-American war, on May 10th, 1898, with Co. L, of the 2nd Nebr., under Col. Stotsenberg. When Co. E, of the 3rd Neb. was formed and his brother, Don C. Van Deusen was made commander of Co. E, he was transferred to the 3rd, then in command of the late Col. W. J. Bryan, who signed his discharge papers on Oct. 30, 1898, peace having been declared.

He was always interested in politics, serving many times as county chairman of his party, and was twice elected to the House of Representatives from this county, serving in 1913 and 1915, as a member of the State Legislature.

He served for several years as a member of the Washington Co. Fair Board, was president of the Wash. Co. farm Bureau and was the first president of the Blair Co-Operative Creamery Assn.

He was raised to the “sublime degree of a Master Mason” in John S. Bowen Lodge, N. 232, of Kennard, in 1895 and for several years had worn the badge as being the oldest member of that lodge, which he served in most of the offices, including Master.

He was a member of Adoniram Chapter and Jordan Commandery here and of Tangier Temple, I.M>S., in Omaha. He had served as Commander of the Knight Templars here and was considered well posted on all Masonic work loving the ancient phraseology and putting his whole soul into the solemn ritualistic rites of that most ancient order. He will be given Masonic burial by his home lodge with pallbearers and escort of Knight Templars from Jordan Commandery.

After spending 26 years on the farm he moved to Blair in February of 1927 and spent one year in the Shell Service Station until failing health compelled him to give up any active business.

He passed away at his home on west Davis Avenue at 645 Tuesday morning, July 18th, aged 64 years, 4 months and 28 days. He had been a sufferer with diabetes and heart trouble for several years, spending several months in the Veterans Hospital in Lincoln in 1930. He had a severe heart attack Wednesday of last week while down town and grew weaker until the end came peacefully early Tuesday morning.

No obituary of him would be complete without mention of his love of baseball, which interest was heightened by the activity of his son, George in that national sport for so many years. It isn’t surprising that his last words were: “The ball game is over, it is time to go home”. And he has gone to his long home, rich in the love and affections of his family and his many friends.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, George H., of this city, Earl G., who is serving in the submarine division of the U.S. Navy at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, and one daughter, Leota, now Mrs. Leo McCormick, also of Blair. Also two brothers, Don C. Van Deusen, of Blair and H. G. of Kennard, and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Kasbohm, of Dunbar, Neb., and Mrs. Don J. Gammel, of Tekamah, and a half brother, John A. Chamberlain, of Los Andgeles, California. There is one grandchild, Ruth Anne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Van Deusen, of this city.

A short service will be held at the family home on Davis Avenue at 2:15 for the family and the funeral service at the Methodist church at 2:30, Friday, July 21. Rev. A. F. Newell and Rev. W. H. Jackson conducting. Burial in the Blair cemetery. – Contributed.

Note: Burial in Blair Cemetery in Blk 93 Lot 5 Gr 11. Find a Grave #119847589.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 7/20/1933


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