Dale Virgil Claussen

Dale Virgil Claussen, 76, of West Des Moines and formerly of Marshalltown and Sioux City, passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at Arbor Springs- West Des Moines.

A Memorial service for Dale will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to the family. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Dale and his family.

Dale Claussen was born on September 10, 1949 in Sioux City, Iowa. He was the son of Earl J. and T. Louise (Streed) Claussen. Dale served his country honorably in the United States Navy from 1968 until 1971, stationed at Moffett Airfield in California. Dale was united in marriage to Pamela Lynn Garrels in 1973, and later to Helen Elizabeth Williams in 1987. Dale met Helen through a magazine ad. They would talk on the phone for hours, and watch the same TV shows together. Dale and Helen originally did not plan on having any children because they wanted to travel, but that changed in 1988 when they joyfully welcomed their only child: Jack. Dale was so excited to be a father. He spoiled Jack with toys and attention, carving out time to watch cartoons and movies together after spending the entire day working around the family farm.

Although Dale wasn’t academically inclined, he was smart about life, and was gifted with tools and skills for working the land. At the Claussen family farm, he tended various fruits, vegetables, and flowers in their greenhouses, and trees in the farm proper. In 2006, Dale retired from farm work after the farm was sold and moved to Marshalltown. He spent his time watching movies, listening to his favorite artists Elvis Presley and Dean Martin, and playing with his dogs.

Many friends and family remember Dale to be gentle, sweet, and very protective of his family. They would also say he was soft spoken to those he didn’t know, but would turn into a fun-loving, big goofball for those he did. One memory that Jack will cherish is watching movies with Dale on repeat, quoting the dialogue lines back and forth.

Dale is survived by his son: Jack Claussen of Ankeny; sister: Patsy Claussen of Sioux City; his niece, Chris Johnson and nephew, David Johnson.

Dale is preceded in death by his second wife, Helen; his first wife, Pamela (Garrels) Claussen, and his parents.

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