Dora Lee Claus | 101 | Pittsfield
Dora Lee Claus, our dear Aunt Dode, passed away peacefully at Liberty Village at the grand old age of 101 on Nov. 30, 2021. She was born May 9, 1920, near Atlas Illinois to Lee and Lona Hooper Wombles. She married Lindle (Lin) Claus on Sept. 21, 1940 and he preceded her in death on Sept. 7, 1987.
Aunt Dode was very well known and highly respected in the community and had many friends, relations and church friends as well as professional friends. She served as Deputy Circuit Clerk of Pike County for 12 years, worked as a legal secretary (nowadays, that title would be Vice President of the firm) and was Manager of Western Illinois Title until her retirement in 1982.
She was a Charter Member of the Pleasant Hill Lioness, a member of the Pittsfield American Legion Auxiliary, belonged for some time to the Pleasant Hill First Baptist Church and was more currently a member of the First Christian Church in Pittsfield. After retirement, she traveled frequently with groups, enjoyed going to the casinos and especially her Thursday afternoon card group.
She served for many years as Mrs. Santa Claus, assisting Santa on Christmas Eve delivering packages all around the community. She water skied into her 60’s on the Mississippi River and spent much time at the Cabin on the river. A great outdoor lover, she could hunt and fish with the best of the men, loved gardening and flowers and was well known for always having a cup of coffee for anyone who dropped by the house.
Aunt Dode was the loving anchor for our family and we all shall miss her greatly.
Her immediate surviving nieces and nephews are: Cinda (Jim) Pettigrew, Rick (Mary) Wombles, Jane (Bart) Smith, Tom (Debbie) Wombles, Marty Claus (Chip Visci), Gene Filer, Laura (John) Plenge. Her great nieces and nephews include: Dan (Renee) Wombles, Michelle (Steve) Hartman, Jeremy (Lisa) Wombles, Conrad ( Adrianna) Smith, Christie Smith, Lacey (Jordan) Gerard, Ashley (Tom) Shaw, Mathew (Sara) Hannel, Destiny Hannel, Natalie, Nicole and Luke Plenge. There are too many great great nieces and nephews to list here, but rest assured that Aunt Dode remembered and could name each and every one as recently as last Christmas.
Sadly, she was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and his brother and sisters, a nephew, Jerry Wombles, her brother, Floyd Wombles and her sister-in-law, Bonnie Wombles.
Graveside service were held on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 10 a.m. at West Cemetery in Pittsfield, IL. Memorials are suggested to be made to Pittsfield First Christian Church or First Baptist Church of Pleasant Hill or Pittsfield American Legion Post #152. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.
