Elsie L. Shaveland

September 2, 1929 - June 10, 2016

Elsie L. (Clausen) Shaveland passed away after fighting her battle with cancer and Parkinson disease at the Emmetsburg Care Center. Elsie Lucie(Clausen) Shaveland, the daughter of Herman and Frieda (Clausen) Clausen, was born at Curlew, Iowa on September 2, 1929. Her parents had recently arrived in the United States in July, 1929, by ship from Germany. Elsie was the oldest of nine children, having five brothers and three sisters. Elsie started country school at Curlew, but when her family bought a farm north of Havelock she attended the Havelock Consolidated School, graduating in 1948 as the class valedictorian. Elsie went to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa receiving her teaching certificate. She taught sixth grade for three years at the Ayrshire Consolidated School. On September 16, 1950, she was united in marriage to Milo Shaveland on the Clausen family farm. Blessed to them were two daughters, Linda and Sandra. They lived on the “well-kept” Shaveland family farm near Mallard all their life until they moved to the Emmetsburg Care Center in October, 2011. Elsie enjoyed her time on the farm with Milo. Together they worked together to manage the family farm and raised their two daughters. She was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mallard. She belonged to the Rebecca Circle and taught Bible school many summers. Elsie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother always thinking of her family first. Family meant everything to her! Elsie enjoyed watching her daughters and grandchildren participate in different activities. She also liked getting together with family for special holidays, family reunions, and birthdays. Elsie passed away on June 10, 2016 at the Emmetsburg Care Center at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Frieda Clausen; brother, John Clausen; sister, Lucille Weatherford; grandson, Brian Arndt; sister-in-law, JoAnn Clausen; brother-in-law, Talmage Weatherford; and nephew, Jeff Clausen. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 65 years, Milo Shaveland; daughters, Linda Arndt (Dave), Pocahontas; Sandra Mills (Kevin), Algona; grandchildren, Mike Arndt (Emily), Ankeny; Heather Mills, Beloit, WI; Whitney Smidt(Bill), Titonka; Blake Mills, Waukee; and great-grandchildren, Colton and Brady Arndt and Michael Smidt; brothers, Hans Clausen(Lola), Herm Clausen, Tom Clausen(Judy), Julius Clausen(Nel); sisters Frieda Lehr(Bob), Anna Stover(Dennis); sister-in-law, Mary Blanz, and many nephews and nieces.