John Clausen

John Clausen, much loved father, brother, uncle and friend, died at home March 20, 2013.

Born in Minot, N.D., on October 21, 1949, to Morten H. and Doris Paff Clausen, John grew up on the family farm. As a young man he was a rambler, having many adventures and storing them away to become the anecdotes he told with such wit, humor and charm to the great many friends he also collected along the way. His marriage and the birth of his son rooted the rambler in Hendersonville, where his wife's family was located. He became a wonderful father to Pete, of whom he was justifiably very proud.

John held a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and a masters from Antioch College. He worked as a reporter on weekly and daily newspapers in Arizona and Kansas, edited several magazines, owned a California-based advertising agency that specialized in direct mail, and taught classes in journalism and advertising. John's book, "Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal," was the Writer's Digest Book Club main selection in May, 2001. His work was published in a wide variety of periodicals from The Christian Science Monitor to The New York Daily News Sunday Magazine. One of his articles was purchased by Penthouse, but, much to the relief of his father, it was never published. He also self-published his debut novel, "Big Hungry," a rather strange murder mystery set in North Dakota, online last year. In recent years, John taught English at the Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County and was working on another novel, much anticipated by his fans, but unfinished at his death.

John is survived by his son, Pete; his sisters, Ann and Jane; his ex-wife but still close friend, Sandy McGlashan and her husband Ken Weitzen; his brother-in-law Peter Dajevskis; his nieces Mara, Erika and Daina Dajevskis; David and Mona McGlashan, and an enormous collection of wonderful and supportive friends. All those who survive him will miss his humor, his compassion, his smart mouth and the acceptance he offered to every person he gathered into his circle. The world will be less interesting without John, and not nearly as funny.

A memorial service will be held for John at the Unitarian church in Hendersonville at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23.

Anyone wishing to donate something should send a donation to the Free Clinics, 841 Case Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.