Clements Hauck
Clements John “Clem” Hauck, the son of John and Christine (Schneider) Hauck, was born November 7, 1925, in Richardton, North Dakota.He died at the age of 85 years, within the loving arms of his wife and children at his side, on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at Trinity Medical Center in Minot, North Dakota.
Clem was raised on the family farm in rural Richardton and received his education there, graduating from the Richardton Abbey.After turning 18, he was inducted into the U.S. Army in December of 1942.On October 20, 1944, the 103rd Infantry Cactus Division landed at Marseilles, France, where he acted as the frontline interrogator and interpreter, because of his fluent German and knowledge of the enemy. Clem’s unit was among the first to liberate the Jewish concentration camp at Dachau. He was wounded in battle by a German sniper and received the Purple Heart in this action.Clem was honorably discharged on April 25, 1946, having attained the rank of technical sergeant.On September 30, 1946, he was united in marriage to Marion Bachmeier at St. Anselm’s Catholic Church at Fulda, North Dakota.The couple lived in Richardton following their marriage until purchasing a farm north of Knox in 1950, where they raised their family and farmed for nearly 3 decades.They then moved to Rugby in 1974, where Clem worked at Merchants Bank before retiring in 1992.
Clem was well-known as a “handyman and entrepreneur”, a skilled carpenter and a gifted “water witch.” His trademark is visible around the area by his blue colored water pumps. He pounded hundreds of wells in his lifetime, sold and installed water sprinkler systems, maintaining the spring and fall work through this past September, and sold and repaired golf carts.Clem was a good neighbor, a great friend and mentor.He enjoyed bowling, golfing, hunting, fishing and good old German music…the Waltz and Polkas.His greatest love was for his wife of 64 years, his children and grandchildren.He will be greatly remembered for his deep faith in God, his patriotism, his immeasurable strength, his willful determination and wisdom, being a good listener, and he told the story as it was. “I am a proud American and that’s how I am going to die…,” a direct quote from Clem.
He is survived by his wife,- Marion; his sons, Jim of Grand Forks;Doug (Shirley) of Rugby, and Al (Mary) of Minot;daughters, Della (Fred) Kraft and Bernie Salz, all of Bismarck, and Jeni (Duane) Heilman of Rugby;22 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sisters, Elizabeth Haman of Rugby, Lorraine Doll of New Salem, and Cecilia Frederick of Richardton. He was preceded in death by brothers, Nick, Paul, Pete, Alex, and Frank; sisters, Anna Fettig, Katie Fitterer, and Eva Zimmerman; son-in-law, Claude Duchscher; and his parents.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, at Little Flower Catholic Church, Rugby, with spring burial in the church cemetery.
Fr. Tom Graner was Celebrant. Music was provided by Steve Mueller and Joe Heilman, soloists, Galen Mack, vocal leader/cantor, and Glenda Mack, organist.
Casketbearers were his grandsons, Jason Salz, Ryan Kraft, Tim Heilman, Tom Heilman, Scott Hauck, Richard Hauck, Joe Heilman, Mike Hauck, David Hauck, Mark Kraft, Robert Hauck, and Cory Hauck.
Military Honors were accorded by The Clarence Larson American Legion Post #23 Honor and Color Guard and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Detail.
Arrangements by Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby.