Claire W. Fjelsted

Claire W. Fjelsted, 87, of Lehigh Acres, died May 9 2011 at home after an extended illness.

He was the son of the late Ausman and Mary (Longdo) Fjelsted, Colfax, Wisc., and was born May 13 1923.

Fjelsted spent his first 33 years in Wisconsin, attended high school in Elk Mound, Wisc., and Fergus Falls, Minn. – Lutheran Brethren schools.

After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country during World War II from 1943 to 1946. Shortly after discharge, he married Iva Peterson, who lived in the same Colfax area; a marriage which was to last for more than 64 years.

Most of his career was spent working with the federal government in Civil Services. In 1956, he moved his family to Columbus, Ohio, where for more than 20 years he worked at the Depot, ultimately promoted to director of procurement and production, for the Dept. of Defense. In 1974, due to health reasons, he retired, and soon after moved to Lehigh where he was to live for the rest of his life.

Survivors include his wife, Iva; four children, Paul Fjelsted (Jan), Garner, N.C., Kathleen Napper, Lehigh, Pamela Fjelsted, Cape Coral, and Sidney Fjelsted (Peggy), Lehigh; sisters, Fran Gunderson, Colfax, Wisc., Elizabeth Johnson, Eau Claire, Wisc., Judy (Bruce) Ganong, Colfax, Wisc., and step-sister Arlene (Roland) Scheidecker, Colfax, Wisc.: brothers Dale Fjelsted (Lois), Forsyth, Mont., David Fjelsted (Diane), Lehigh, and step-brother Roland (Wanda) Edwards, also Colfax.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, eight step-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is is also preceded in death by his step-mother Selma, brothers, Mark and Jim; sisters, Marcie Christianson and Donna Harshman, and daughter-in-law, Sue (Paul) Fjelsted.

His family said he lived his life with an all-out passion for his Lord, his family, his work, and even his hobbies of golfing, fishing, and being “Poppy.”

Arrangements are being handled by Farley Funeral Home, Lehigh Acres.

Friends may visit the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday May 11, 2011. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 12 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Lehigh with services officiated by Pastor A.J. Neugebauer. Interment will follow at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.

The family suggests that contributions be made in his memory to the Beautiful Savior Church in Lehigh.