In Remembrance

Ramona Rose Claude, 93, ascended to heaven on April 28, 2024. Ramona was born on April 7, 1931 to Howard and Katie Anderson in Centuria, Wisconsin. Living in Centuria, she grew up attending the Eureka Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. After graduation, she attended Normal School, achieving a teaching degree. She met Jim Claude at Sunday school when they were five years old and attended a two room school where they were in the same classroom every other year. They married on February 16, 1952 at the Eureka Baptist Church and celebrated their 72nd Anniversary this year. She and Jim lived in Landsberg, Germany and adopted their son, Jeffrey there. After returning to the United States, they lived in Centuria, Wisconsin and adopted their daughter, Kathryn.

Ramona served wherever help was needed. Along with serving at Eureka Baptist Church, she was involved with several ministries at the Grace Baptist Church in Grantsburg, Wisconsin and was one of the leaders of the GMG young girl’s group, Sunday school teacher and other duties as she was asked. She enjoyed drawing and painting. She painted several banners for church events and painted the directional signs for Wood Lake Baptist Camp. She was hired to bake cookies for weddings and took in ironing for extra income. She substitute taught at a two room school when asked.

After moving to Black River Falls, she worked at a Training and Employment Center, teaching the trainable developmentally disabled young people. She also taught Head Start at the Winnebago (now Ho-Chunk) Mission for a year. She was the Activities Director at the Family Heritage Nursing Home in Black River Falls. She and Jim were hired as managers for the Madson/Meridian Corporation. They managed a senior housing apartment building in Reedsburg for a short time and were promoted to regional management positions, moving them to Superior, WI.

They became members of Odgen Avenue Baptist Church, now Bayside Baptist Church. Ramona taught the 2-5 year old Sunday school for several years. She was a board member of the Spice of Life Women’s Bible Study group with some of her friends. She had a dream that became Bayside’s summer one evening per month community gathering called “Joy in the City.” Ramona was instrumental in starting or serving in several of the ministries and groups as well. She also served as the church secretary for several years and transitions through a few pastors until her retirement.

She was gentle hearted and soft spoken, most of time. Ramona has always enjoyed people, especially little children. She spent many hours with her grandchildren, playing with them, picking up after them, teaching them songs, nursery rhymes and reading to them, drawing or coloring with them. She treasured her time with family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Howard & Katie Anderson, mother-in-law and father-in law, Joseph and Louise Claude, son, Jeffrey E. Claude, and brother, Wayne.

She is survived by her husband, Jim E. Claude, daughter, Kathryn (Doug) Stetzer of Superior, grandchildren, Curt (Chiharu) Thompson, Stephanie (Tim) Stetzer, Justin (Kristen) Stetzer, Jeffrey (Chris) Claude, Sina Claude, Ann (Cory) Haasnoot, and several great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be at Bayside Baptist Church on Saturday, June 1st, 2024 at 10:00 am Visitation, 11:00 am Service, lunch to follow. Interment will be at the New Home Cemetery, Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 2:00 pm. 2265 220th Ave, St Croix Falls, WI 54024. Coffee time after in the Community Room, Pioneer Apartments, 612 S 2nd Street, Luck Wisconsin.