- Date Of Death: May 6, 2012
- State: Pennsylvania
Frederick D. Clauser, 76, of Bethlehem passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Saucon Valley Manor, Hellertown, PA. He was the beloved husband of Nancy (Behney) Clauser. They were married on November 12, 1955, and celebrated 56 years of marriage. Born in Auburn, PA, on June 6, 1935, he was the son of Roy E. and Sara (Reber) Clauser. Fred was a 1953 graduate of Cressona High School. He attended Penn State University and graduated from Churchmans Business College in Easton, PA, in 1959. He was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. Fred proudly served his country from 1954 to 1957 in the Army/Airborne as a paratrooper serving in all three Airborne Divisions, the 82nd, the 101st and the 11th. He was stationed in Munich, Germany during the Hungarian uprising in 1956 and helped refugees to escape their country as they came across the border into Austria at Andau. He later helped process these refugees as they waited for flights to America and was greatly touched and inspired by their stories. During this time he also helped to train a new German paratroop division. In 1964, Fred began his business career with Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph, a German company in Bloomsbury, N.J., where he was employed for 33 years. During that time he served as Treasurer and later was appointed to Managing Director/CEO before retiring in 1995. He was involved with many key projects as the company diversified from technical/engineering products to writing instruments, artist supplies and cosmetics. Fred was on the Koh-I-Noor Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of Warren Hospital and on a Small Business Advisory Committee at the NY Federal Reserve Bank. His financial responsibilities also included banking relations with several international banks in NYC and Tennessee. During those years, Freds hobby was aviation, acquiring his pilots license/instructors rating and owning his own airplane. In 1969, his adventurous spirit resulted in entering an air race, in the single engine category, sponsored by the London Daily Mail to commemorate the 50th anniversary if Alcocks and Browns (two British airmen) first nonstop east to west flight across the Atlantic. His adventure ended in tragedy when he was forced to ditch his plane near the Faroe Islands in the north Atlantic because of bad weather. Although he was “grounded” for a while, he was soon soaring again. Gifted with an infectious sense of humor, Fred was an excellent story teller and loved to tell Pennsylvania Dutch jokes and stories. He loved music and attended many concerts, especially those of his grandchildren. He was also a great mentor to young men and woman, as Fred and Nancy opened their home to many European students who took jobs at KIN for several months to experience the American culture. After retiring, Fred volunteered at the Phoebe Devitt Home in Allentown for many years and also was a Musikfest Volunteer. Fred and Nancy enjoyed traveling and made many trips to Europe during his career, meeting colleagues from sister companies and especially enjoyed hiking in the Alps, which they continued after retirement. In 2004, Fred and Nancy traveled the Louis and Clark Trail from Missouri to Oregon and then went on to Alaska to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Fred was especially proud of his family and their accomplishments and loved being a “Pappy” to his three grandchildren. Survivors: He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Karen Clauser of Upper Black Eddy; sons, Craig Clauser and his wife, Janice of Bethlehem, Neal Clauser and his fiancée, Kim Wefing of Easton; and grandchildren, Ryan Clauser, Christopher Clauser, and Danielle Goff-Clauser; sister, Sandra Westbrook of Glassboro, NJ; sister-in-law, Bernice Clauser of Auburn; brother-in-law, Donald Behney and his wife, Carol of Pine Grove; and nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were two brothers, John Robert Clauser, Donald Clauser and an infant sister.
