Hope “Peg” Clausen

Hope Margaret “Peg” Clausen, wife of TV and radio personality Bob Clausen, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2015, after losing her battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends. 

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the charity of one’s choice in support of breast cancer research. There will be a celebration of life held on June 6, 2015, at Clear Lake Arts Center, from 6-8 p.m. This will be preceded by a Hope Clausen Memorial Bike Ride around the lake which the family hopes will become an annual event in support of breast cancer research. The bike ride will commence at 2 p.m. 

beginning at the Clear Lake City Park.

Peg was a lifelong resident of Clear Lake, having been raised by her grandparents, Amonde Heffner and John McKee Heffner in the house next door to the Clausen family home. Hope was born July 29, 1926 in Iowa City, Iowa to parents William Dwight and Hope Harriet (Heffner) Meyer. She was a graduate of Clear Lake High School, where she was awarded the Bausch Lomb science award, and attended the community college in Mason City.  She married her husband, Robert Clausen, in 1946 when he returned to Clear Lake following World War II. 

Peg was always highly involved in community affairs. She was a member of the Clear Lake Arts Council, History Club, PEO, and heavily involved with the AFS foreign exchange student program. Peg loved art and music, and rarely missed any events that were in the area. She may be remembered most for the fact that she taught a large number of Clear Lake residents how to swim, beginning with being a Red Cross instructor while she was in high school and teaching off the family’s dock until into her 70s. She was also a familiar figure to be seen riding her bicycle around the lake which she continued until into her early 80s. She remained passionate about fitness and health until her death. 

Hope is survived by three daughters, Carrie Clausen Rocke, Chris Ellen Hankenson (Robert Brown), and Darcy Somervill (John). She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Scott Allen Hankenson, Abby Elizabeth Wright, Jennifer Lynn Hanna, Stephanie Hankenson, Christopher Hankenson, Emily Rocke, Miriam Rocke, Charles Somervill, Laura Somervill Ocker and 17 great grandchildren.

Hope was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; grandparents, John and Amonde Heffner; parents, William and Hope Meyer; and an infant daughter, Catherine.