- Date Of Birth: April 8, 1936
- Date Of Death: May 19, 2021
- State: Idaho
Claire Martin Moser, 85, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 19, 2021.
Claire was born April 8, 1936, in Guttenberg, Iowa, to Martin and Hazel Moser. He grew up and attended schools in Guttenberg. He joined the U. S. Navy at the age of seventeen after earning his G.E.D. He was stationed in San Diego, California where he achieved the rank of Electrician Mate Second Class and was honorably discharged in March 1957. Claire graduated Cum Laude from Upper Iowa University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in science in 1963.
In his youth, Claire learned the value of working hard. He worked with a friend fishing on the Mississippi River. He was happily referred to as a “river rat” by those who knew him and he was proud of the fact that he was an excellent swimmer who could swim the wide span of the mighty Mississippi. Claire also worked for area farmers cleaning barns, butchering hogs, milking cows, tending gardens, and selling produce (“5 cents for a musk melon”) and he worked at Patzner’s dairy. He learned carpentry by working for a local company where he built cabinets and trimmed out trailers. While working at Patzner’s dairy, he met the love of his life, Lois Jean Nuehring.
On October 1, 1955, he married Lois Jean in Guttenberg, Iowa. Claire and Lois lived in San Diego, California while Claire served in the Navy. They lived in Fayette, Iowa and Lincoln, Nebraska while Claire attended college. After college, Claire and Lois moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where they raised their children, Randy, Ronda, Misti, and Kristi. Claire worked as a nuclear physicist for several companies, including Phillips Petroleum, Aerojet Nuclear, and Energy Incorporated. Claire travelled frequently, most often to Washington D. C., Pittsburgh, Virginia, Couer d’Alene, Japan, Holland.
Claire was a keen card player, especially bid euchre and bridge. He liked playing baseball and basketball in his youth, riding his horses Pepper and Charlie in his middle-aged years and “playing catch” or “shooting baskets” with his son and daughters. He was a man who would tackle any project and he could fix or repurpose anything. He liked working with his hands.
He was the epitome of strength, resilience, honesty, character, love and hard work. He would drop whatever he was doing to help out one of his children. He lived his life to the very best of his ability and he accomplished so much. He was married to the love of his life for 65 years, he had four children he dearly loved, eight grandchildren he adored and four (plus one on the way) great grandchildren that were the light of his life. His wit was sharp and he always cracked jokes to make you think and smile. He enjoyed country music, especially Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, and Eddie Arnold. He had a wonderful singing voice, that he only shared with a few special people.
Claire also loved his hometown and his Iowa roots. His idea of the perfect summer vacation was returning to the Nuehring family farm and the town of Guttenberg.
Claire is survived by his loving wife, Lois Moser of Idaho Falls, ID; daughters, Ronda (Greg) Rasmussen of Rigby, ID, Misti (Tom) Lillo of Idaho Falls, ID, and Kristi Moser-McIntire of Idaho Falls, ID; grandchildren Ryan (Heather) McDaniel of Malabar FL, AJ (Bri) Rasmussen of Idaho Falls, ID, Michelle (Adam) Triplett of Boise, ID, Marie (Jasper) Williams of Chubbuck, ID, Megan Moser (Matt Nielsen) of Seward, AK, Morgan McIntire, McKenzie McIntire, and Justin McIntire all of Idaho Falls, ID; 4 great grandchildren; and one sister, Brenda Allman of Guttenberg, IA.
He was preceded in death by his son, Randy Moser, his parents, one brother and three sisters.
He will be forever loved and remembered by his children and his grandchildren.
