Carl William Clausen | 1938 - 2025
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted Sep 5, 2025 | 4:50 PM / 538 views
PIERRE, SD – Carl William Clausen, 87, of Pierre, SD, died on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Avera Maryhouse in Pierre.
Burial with military honors will be in Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD, at 10:00am on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Carl was born on May 1, 1938 in Woonsocket, SD, to Carl A. and Viola (Goudy) Clausen. The family lived in Woonsocket, where Carl began school. They eventually moved to Tinton, SD, and he attended school in Lead, SD. At age 17, Carl felt the call of duty and joined the US Army. This began a 21 ½ year military career. He served in Vietnam two times, as well as Germany and other places. During this time Carl became the father of five children: Lori, Joetta, Carl, Bryan and Sylvia. He also earned a college education. After retirement from the Army, Carl spent some time fishing in Sturgis, SD, with his dad before going to work at Homestake Mining Company in Lead.
Carl was married to Gloria Marzolf in 1978 in Sturgis. They remained in Sturgis for a few years after his retirement from Homestake. The couple moved to Harrold, SD in 1999, where he enjoyed more fishing. In 2018 he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so they moved to Pierre to be closer to treatments and healthcare.
Carl lived simply, enjoying the loving companionship of a lifelong marriage, visiting friends and neighbors, finding pleasure in hobbies like hunting, shooting, fishing, and reading, and spending time in nature. He had three dogs he loved over the course of his adult life, Nikki, Jake, and Greta.
He fought cancer valiantly and for a long time, and accepted Jesus as his savior. He saw life as a gift every day for seven more years, and in the end, failed quickly, selling his belongings to provide for Gloria and protect her from having to do these things.
Finally, he called his loved ones to his bedside and went to be gathered to his people. I think he would agree that this quote suits him: “I look back on my life like a good day’s work— it was done and I am satisfied with it.”
Carl is survived by his wife of 47 years, Gloria Clausen; his five children: Lori Brotherston of Alabama, Joetta (Bill) Schneider of Florida, Carl Wade (Kim) Clausen of West Virginia, Bryan (Tammy) Clausen of Texas, and Sylvia Blanton of California; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Dave (Lorraine) Clausen of Harrold and his sister, Alean (Bill) Thomas of Washington.
