Clayton Call

Clayton C. Call, age 73, of Lancaster, passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2015, at his home with his loving family by his side. Clayton was born on September 2, 1942 in Whitehall Wisconsin to James Call, Sr and Christine (Solum) Call. He grew up on a Century Farm in rural Osseo, WI. He attended King's Valley 1 room schoolhouse thru the 8^th grade and graduated from Osseo High School in 1960, there he was active in 4-H, and Jr. Leaders. In FFA he was active in local, state, and national dairy judging and was awarded the State Farmer Award. He also was involved in sports, music, drama, and forensics.

After High School he attended UW Madison's Farm Short Course and was involved in many school activities and learned to swim at the Red Gym on the UW Campus.

He married Judith Hanson at King's Valley Church and from there his love of the Land and farming took his career to many places. He worked in Osseo and Strum, then moved to Burlington, WI and pursued management training. He worked at Montello and Osceola, WI and also temporary management positions in Union Grove and Northfield, MN. His final hometown was Lancaster, WI, where he worked at Lancaster, Platteville, and Hazel Green offices.

He was active in the Montello Volunteer Fire Department and the Hazel Green Rescue Squad. He was active in Christ Lutheran Church where he served many terms on the Church Counsel. Clayton was on the Farm Progress and Technology Planning Committee that brought Farm Progress Days to Grant County.

Boy Scouting was an important love to Clayton and one that he passed on to his son and grandson. He served as troop leader, Council Member and took 2 groups to Philmont Ranch, NM. Clayton was honored with a Citation by the State Assembly, Lancaster Fire Department, and nominated for the Carnegie Medal of Heroism for his part in the rescue of a man from a burning vehicle.

Clayton was a master craftsman and enjoyed making furniture, crafts, and toys for his grandchildren and neighborhood children. He and his father-in-law built his family home in Osceola, and after retirement he assisted in the building of his daughter and son-in-law's cabin. His garage workshop was well organized and was where he lived by the motto measure twice, cut once. He was a handyman that could fix anything.

His second love was fishing with his buddies Larry and Jim. Numerous hours and tales were shared in the boat and his "Mighty Merc" motor.

Clayton loved to travel, there were numerous family trips from the California coast to the Atlantic Ocean-DC and Virginia area. He enjoyed numerous trips with his in-laws to Cable and Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota and winter trips in the Gulf Coast and Caribbean. He and Judy along with Nita and Tom traveled to 5 countries in Northern Europe in his pilgrimage to trace his ancestry in Norway, only to learn he was not 100% Norwegian as he had bragged. There was a little Swedish there.

Weather was Clayton's claim to fame. He had most meteorologist beat, and reported to both the Lacrosse and CoCoRaHS National Weather Bureaus. He was also a Weather Spotter for the Lancaster Area.

Clayton is survived by his wife, Judy, Lancaster; Son, Bryan (Sonya), Wisconsin Rapids; daughter Laurie(Steve) Walker, Lancaster; Grandchildren: Tanner and Jenah Call, Elizabeth, Erin and Meg Walker. He is further survived by sister, Loretta (Arlen) Carter, Fall Creek, WI; Sister-in-law, Marion Call, Osseo, WI.

Clayton was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James, and nephew, Eric Carter.

Memorial Services were held on Thursday, December 31, 2015, at Christ Lutheran Church in Lancaster at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor David Froemming officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Family and friends called on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the church and on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Clayton C. Call Memorial Fund has been established. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lancaster is serving the family.