Brian Clauss

Date of Birth

Oct 11,1957

Date of Death

Feb 13,2017

Brian Clauss, age 59, of Elgin, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 13, 2017.

He was born October 11, 1957, the son of Walter and Judith (Loshbough) Clauss.

Brian grew up in Itasca, IL, and attended local schools. He graduated from Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL. Before accepting his diploma, he proved himself as a first class grappler on the high school wrestling team. Following graduation he attended Michigan State University before coming back home to become a volunteer fireman for the Itasca Fire Department.

During that time, he began working Clauss Brothers Landscaping Contractors. Brian found he had quite the green thumb and enjoyed wearing many hats, including Plantsman. He was “foreman” of a small crew, and together they were responsible for transforming basic or neglected areas into picture perfect vistas including Humboldt Park and Cabrini Green. During the latter project, Brian brought extra flowers to give to all the local children, giving them a bit of beauty to share and hopefully an appreciation for the work that went into each location. One of his more amazing transformations was of an island in the middle of a pond in Rolling Meadows near Rt. 53. Brian had helicopters bring in trees and other landscape materials, while he and the rest of the crew rowed all the tools of their trade, making a beautiful oasis, literally from the ground up. During the winters, he was no stranger to a snow plow and for the past many years, he drove for Groot Industries Transfer Division, taking refuse from the transfer station to the landfill. In recent years, his division was sold to Sunset Cartage, Inc., where he continued to be one of their top drivers, as evidenced by his success in training other drivers who were new to the company.

How Brian first met Pat Hughes at Paradise Park in Garden Prairie still remains fuzzy, but their first dance happened not too long after. It would be another two and a half years before they would dance as man and wife on September 21, 1991. It was a second marriage for each of them and Brian made sure that each child knew they were loved, and they were his. In turn, they loved him with all their heart and together they began their new life together in Elgin where the newly formed family continued to make the kind of memories that are unforgettable.

Brian enjoyed the danger and thrill of bull riding, and yet still felt at home in the kitchen. He was well known for frying twenty pounds of potatoes in his oversized frying pan that left everyone coming back for seconds. At the end of the year, the campground provided an appreciation dinner for all the seasonal campers. They would purchase large cuts of meat and put Brian in charge of grilling, and he never disappointed. Brian was the epitome of the “friendly neighbor”. He was the first greet new campers and the first to lend a hand to anyone in need, whether you lived next to him or miles away and even if you were a couple of puppies in distress. He proved to be a quick thinker and was rarely rattled in emergency situations. He even swam across a near frozen Kishwaukee River to save two puppies who were stranded. The puppies eventually found a home at Brian’s parent’s home and named “Kish” and “Waukee”. A critical thinker, Brian used his ingenuity to better the lives of others, often coming up with “out of the box” ideas. He was a “doer” for other people and never asked for anything in return. Brian had an ear for country music and the rhythm to match. His dancing was infectious, and he quickly brought Pat along for the ride as they double and triple quick-stepped their way across the dance floor. When the music slowed down, Brian did too, making the most of every beat.

He is survive d by his loving wife Pat Clauss; three children: Clint (Hope Arnold) Clauss, Natalie (John) Seper and Nathan (Kelly) Campbell; Seven grandsons: Christopher, Jacob, Ian, Nolin, Levi, Kevin and Wade; One sister, Sherry (Gordon) Gehrke; and his father, Walter Clauss.
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He is preceded in death by his mother, Judith Clauss and both his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., on Monday, February 20, 2017, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 21, also at the funeral home. Rev. Gerhard Mau, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hampshire, will officiate with interment to follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a donation to the charity of your choice and/or plant a tree in Brian’s memory. Tributes may also be forwarded to the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com, where you can find his full life story.

A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 21, also at the funeral home. Rev. Gerhard Mau, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hampshire, will officiate with interment to follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., on Monday, February 20, 2017, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL.

A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 21, also at the funeral home. Rev. Gerhard Mau, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hampshire, will officiate with interment to follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.

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