Dawn Claussen, 59, of Cedar Grove passed away Monday afternoon April 11, 2022 at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice with family by her side.
Dawn was born September 10, 1962 in Sheboygan, the daughter of Erwin and Shirley (nee Winkelhorst) Claussen. She attended Cedar Grove Elementary School and Sheboygan Falls Lightfoot School, graduating from Lightfoot in 1981. From 1981-2007, Dawn worked at Wigwam Mills as a knitter.
A member of First Reformed Church in Cedar Grove, Dawn also belonged to Local 147T United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and the Oostburg Friendship Club. She volunteered with the Wisconsin Donor Network, the Cedar Grove Blood Drive, and at Cedar Grove Gardens Assisted Living playing bingo with residents. As a member of the Wisconsin Transplant Olympics Team, she proudly earned a silver medal in 1998 as a race walker. She enjoyed participating in events at Cedar Grove Holland Festival, and participated in the Holland Fest Walk for 20 years. She also walked in many other fundraiser walks, including being the team captain for Dawn’s Dynamites for Juvenile Diabetes (JDRF).
An avid doll collector, Dawn had over 120 dolls in her collection. She enjoyed country music, watching the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers Football, and going to car shows where she particularly loved the Mustangs. She loved spending time with her family and friends, going out to eat, and shared an especially close bond with her sister Lisa from whom she was a living related kidney transplant recipient in 1987.
Dawn is survived by her mother Shirley of Cedar Grove and her sisters Lisa Claussen of Grafton and Tanya (Jeff) Garside of San Jose, CA and Cedar Grove, WI. She is further survived by her nephew and nieces: Jean-Luc Garside and Kathryn Garside, both of San Jose, CA and Amanda (Mark) Nelson of Milwaukee; aunts and uncles: Edith TenDolle, Harriet Rauwerdink, Gary and Julieanne Winkelhorst, Caroline Staaben, Diane Claussen and Mary and Darrell Anderson; many cousins, friends, extended family, and her golden doodle Maribel Lulu.
She is preceded in death by her father Erwin, grandparents Harvey and Marie Winkelhorst, Arthur Claussen and Dena (Don) Claussen DeBlaey; aunt and uncles: LaVerne and Donald Voesch, Carl Ten Dolle, Ronald Rauwerdink, Robert Claussen, David Claussen, James Claussen and Michael Staaben; canine companions Abigail Peaches and Spencer Spitfire.
A Memorial Service celebrating Dawn’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at First Reformed Church in Cedar Grove. Pastor Bradford will officiate. The family will receive visitors at the church on Tuesday from 9:00 – 11:00AM.
She will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the family plot.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Oostburg Area Friendship Ministry, Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, Cedar Grove First Responders, First Reformed Church or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Johnson and his staff as well as the Medical Arts Dialysis Center for their great care of Dawn over the last 15 years.
The Wenig Funeral Home – Oostburg (920-564-2771) is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit www.wenigfh.com for more information and online condolences.
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