Harold Claunch

A celebration of the life of Harold (Hal) Claunch will be held Thursday July 8, 2010 at 10:00AM at the Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper. Harold passed away peacefully on July 3, 2010 at the age of 93. He was born July 21, 1916 in Orlando, Oklahoma. The son of Joseph Claunch and Bessie Stanton, he grew up in Hunter, OK where he began his life as a musician and excelled in football. He graduated from Hunter High School albeit with plenty of tutoring help from his high school sweetheart Mildred Walker who he married on February 4, 1937 in Pampa, Texas. They were married 72 years and had a wonderful life together.

After their marriage Hal and Mildred lived in a number of places while Hal worked as a musician. They lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a time before settling in the Los Angeles area where their son T.J. was born, followed by their daughter Marilyn, who died in infancy, and finally their daughter Lee Ann. Tiring of living a musician's life, mostly spent on the road, and with two children, the family moved back to Oklahoma in 1946 where Hal played his music, worked for a music store in Enid and for his father's John Deere dealership while Mildred worked at raising the children and keeping the Claunch family home. Harold and the family moved to Casper in 1954 where he worked as a postal clerk and musician. He worked for the postal service for 22 years before retiring in 1977 but he never retired from his music and played past his 90th birthday.

After his retirement, Hal and Mildred spent a number of winters in California where he was able to enjoy golf and get reacquainted with many old friends who still lived there in addition to making many new friends. Of course music was part of this and he reunited with many old musician friends he had played with in years past and he played with them and others in many groups and big bands during those retirement years. They traveled extensively after retirement with their son T.J. They visited Mexico, England, Scotland and France, a cruise through the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal in addition to many places in the states including an Alaskan cruise and a visit to Hawaii.

Everyone knew Hal as a musician and he played the clarinet, saxophone and flute. Music was included in every part of his life. He was a life long member of the Musicians Union of which he was very proud. He enjoyed fishing and camping over the years with his children and grandchildren and loved to eat good cooking, especially Mildred's. Many Wyoming summer nights were spent in their camper beside a stream or lake or in the backyard by the grill where he patiently awaited a feast of great food.

He is survived by his son T.J. Claunch of Casper; his daughter Lee Ann Thurston and her husband Rick of Casper; grandsons Don Claunch and his wife Laura of Casper and Rick Thurston and his wife Christin of Minneapolis, Minnesota; granddaughter Dori Claunch and her partner Patti Paredes of Denver, Colorado; great grand children Jeri Claunch Boe of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Donnie Claunch and his wife Emily of Casper, Kendall and Dillon Thurston of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Leslie Lillo of Las Vegas, Nevada; his great-great grandsons Shandon Boe of Sioux Falls, SD and Ethan and Brodie Claunch of Casper.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 72 years, his parents, his infant daughter Marilyn Jean Claunch, his granddaughter Darla Jean Claunch, his brothers Elvyn and Arlo Claunch and sister Fern Moman.

Memorials in Harold's name may be sent to Jason's Friends Foundation, 340 West B Street, Suite 101, Casper, WY 82601 or the Shriner's Patients Travel Fund, Casper Shrine Club, 1501 West 39th, Casper, WY 82604. They may also be left at the Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper.