Eileen Clausen

Eileen Elizabeth Schmitt Clausen, 95, of Decatur, IL, passed away peacefully at her home in Decatur, IL on Thursday, September 1, 2011. Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL, with visitation one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in Macon Cemetery, Macon, IL. Memorials may be made to Cancer Care Specialists of Central IL. Eileen was born June 15, 1916, in Macon, IL, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Allender) Schmitt. As a teenager, she graduated high school in Macon, winning the Herff-Jones Honor Award. In her youth, she lived for several years in St. Louis, and proudly remembered seeing George Gershwin perform Rhapsody in Blue and Babe Ruth hit a home run. Eileen was an avid amateur golfer, once winning the 9 hole Championship at South Side Country Club. She was also a serious bridge player, belonging to the same bridge club for fifty years. She married John Andrew Clausen of Decatur, on February 4, 1937 and they were married for 67 years, before his death in 2004. When Eileen was 55, she fulfilled her lifelong desire to be a nurse and attended nursing school, graduating as an LPN and worked for Dr. Downing of Decatur. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband John, brothers Homer and Charles, and her sister Rachel. She leaves her daughters Patricia Clausen, Jan Clausen and son-in-law, Dr. John R. Mathiason; and three nieces and one nephew. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Fritz and his staff for the caring and compassionate care given to Eileen. Condolences may be left to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com "
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