Dean Clawson

October 25, 2015

Lt. Col. Dean Clawson (Retired), 97, of Lincoln, retired LPS teacher, passed away on October 25, 2015.

Dean was born on a farm near Phillips, NE, on September 30, 1918, to Robert and Villa Clawson. He grew up during the Great Depression and graduated from Grand Island H.S. in 1937 holding school track records, placing in the state track meet, and was a member of the last Class A football team in Nebraska to go undefeated and unscored upon. This 1936 State Championship team was inducted into the Nebraska High School Athletic Hall of Fame. At the University of Nebraska he played on the Freshman football team and met his future wife, Ruth Benn of Ord, NE. His long military career began while he was still a high school student, when he persuaded his parents to let him join the National Guard in 1935. In 1940 he mobilized into active duty. Before shipping out to India in 1942 WWII, young Lieutenant Clawson married Ruth. His next 2 1/2 years were served in the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) where he encountered Gandhi, Chiang Kai-shek, and Gen. Claire Chennault of the Flying Tigers, worked with Gen. Joseph "Vinagar Joe" Stilwell, and became Captain Clawson.

Returning to the U.S., Dean finished his degree in Education at UNL (later adding a Masters degree) and started a 34 year teaching career at Havelock H.S., Whittier Jr. High, and his beloved Lincoln High School. In addition to Chairman of the Industrial Arts Department, he was Assistant Coach for gymnastics and inducted into the LHS Athletic HOF with the State Champion teams and with a special induction as Contributor. In his career as an educator, he received numerous state and national honors for excellence, including Teacher of the Year awards. In the meantime, his military career continued in the National Guard and Army Reserves where he reached the rank of Lt. Colonel and Commander of the 162nd Medical Battalion, receiving numerous citations and awards to add to six WWII medals for military service. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was stationed at Ft. Riley, KS and joined meetings with Sec. of Defense McNamara.'

Dean was an active member and/or contributor throughout his life in numerous organizations, including M.A.D.DADS, Kiwanis, National Vice Commander of CBI Veterans Assn, American Vocational Assn, Professional Education Assn, Boys State counselor, Retired Officers Assn, and many others. He was proud of but humble about his military service, believing'the honors belonged to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and expressed his appreciation to them through'his'decades of effort on the Veterans Memorial Garden Committee

Dean was known for his friendliness, sense of humor, patriotism, generosity, and caring, especially with young people. His teaching and mentoring touched the lives of many and was a great joy to him.

Preceded by wife Ruth and son Larry. Survived by daughter Linda (Ken) Glantz, Murdock; and sons Kent, Des Moines; Bruce (Sharon), Omaha; Kim (Jackie), Northbrook, Illinois; David (Tammy), Norfolk; nieces Doris Tancioco, Seal Beach, CA ; Beverly Boydstun , Vancouver, WA; Barb Reade, Highlands, TX; Rachel Otero, Scottsbluff; 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. The family gives special thanks to the caring and friendship of the staff at Legacy Retirement Community and Southlake Village.

Memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, Oct. 30 at Butherus Maser & Love Funeral Home, 4040 A St., Lincoln, with visitation from 6-8 pm on Thursday, Oct. 29.'
'In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to MAD DADS, Lincoln Public Schools Foundation for Lincoln High, or Veterans Memorial Garden.

https://www.bmlfh.com/obituary/dean-clawson