Claude C. Whitehill

Claude C. Whitehill, 76 of Mason City died Saturday, April 26, 2003 at Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Memorial Services for Claude will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 Fourth Street S.E., Mason City with Rev. Scott Duffus officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery with full military rites conducted by the Mason City Veteran?s Memorial Association. Visitation for Claude will be held 5:00 ? 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City. A memorial fund has been established in Claude?s name. Claude was born July 10, 1926 the son of Claude and Arris (Curran) Whitehill in LuVerne, Iowa. Claude graduated from Burt High School in Burt, Iowa and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy in World War II onboard the U.S.S. Tamalpais. He was then united in marriage to Wanda Mann on July 28, 1946 in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Claude then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa receiving his Bachelors of Science Degree, and later attended Drake University in Des Moines to receive his Masters Degree. Claude was a teacher and principal in the Wapsie Valley Community School District for 27 years. In their hometown of Readlyn, Claude was instrumental in the construction of the new town library. He was also know for teaching Sunday School in Readlyn at Zion Lutheran Church. Claude was an active member of St. James Lutheran Church as well as his community. He organized and loved to play with ?The Boys of Summer? Senior Softball League in Mason City. Claude was a member of the Y.M.C.A. where he spent many hours teaching Judo, achieving the rank of Fourth Degree Black Belt. His family particularly remembers him for his love of his family and the enjoyment he received from playing his harmonica. Those left to cherish Claude?s memory are: his wife, Wanda of Mason City; three daughters: Cynthia Landau and husband Alan of San Diego, California, Cheryl Cooke and husband Earl of Readlyn, Iowa, Christine Barfoot of Milford, Iowa; four sons: Ed Whitehill of Mason City, Steve Whitehill and wife Debbie of Las Animas, Colorado, Craig Whitehill and wife JoAnn of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Creighton Whitehill and wife Rhonda of Des Moines; sixteen grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one sister, Sally Tabako of Garden Grove, California; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one grandson.

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory on April 29, 2003 (map/driving directions) 4:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory on April 26, 2003 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:30 PM at St. James Lutheran Church on April 30, 2003 (map/driving directions)