Kelly Eugene Clausen

Kelly Eugene “Gene” Clausen, 46, of Weatherford, Texas left for his home in heaven on Tuesday evening, June 1, 2021, after a three year battle with cancer. Services will be private.

Gene was born on November 15, 1974, in Laurium, Michigan to William and Deborah (Thompson) Clausen. Starting life out as a military brat, he lived in numerous states in his childhood including Michigan, Maine, Illinois, and Texas. As an adult, with traveling in his blood, he continued his adventures living in Florida, New York, Nevada, and Arizona but he always considered Florida his home. In 2018, Gene returned to Texas to spend the remainder of his life near his family.

Gene worked most of his life in the hospitality industry, and he thoroughly enjoyed conversations and debates with the intellectual people he met along the way in his life. His hobbies included surfing and playing pool but more importantly, he was a true car enthusiast. In recent years he was passionate about the restoration of his 1971 Datsun 240Z.

Gene is survived by his parents, Bill Clausen and Debbie Clausen; his sister April and her husband Michael Baldwin; his amazing niece, Landry Baldwin, all of whom he was so very proud of. John and Terry Thompson of Illinois, James and Sue Clausen of Iowa, and Christine Bernstein of Texas, uncles and aunts, also survive.

His special friend, Terri Brinson Slusher, who taught him at the age of five how to tie his shoes 41 years ago at Loring AFB, selflessly left her family, friends and job in Minnesota two months ago and came to Texas to help care for Gene in his final days. In addition, his lifetime friends, Doug and Deane Kemp and family of Florida were also a very important and instrumental part of his life.

A limb has fallen from our family tree that says “Grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter and the song, and most of all the good life I lived while I was strong.” And remember too - those who wander are not necessarily lost.