John Lawrence Claude

Dr. John L. Claude, 84, was called to the Lord on Monday, February 6, 2012 at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc. Born to Elsie and John B. Claude on June 15, 1927, John grew up in Wauwatosa and spent his summers on Big Cedar Lake in West Bend. In 1945, John joined the Naval Medical Corps as a Pharmacist's mate and was stationed in Trinidad for three years. Upon returning to Milwaukee, he continued his medical education at Marquette Medical School specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. It was during this time that John met his bride-to-be Mary Elizabeth Conery. After completing his residency in 1958, John took a position at the Wilkinson Clinic and moved his young family to Oconomowoc. He not only became Wilkinson's first OB/GYN Doctor, but the first Board Certified OB/GYN in Waukesha County. Over the next 41 years Dr. Claude introduced over 6,000 babies into this world while actively serving his community as a member of St. Jerome's Church, the Oconomowoc Rotary and the Oconomowoc School Board. John decided to join the Army in 1979 and moved the family to Augsburg, Germany, where he served his country as a Lt. Col for three years. Returning to Oconomowoc in 1982, John resumed and continued his practice until his retirement in 1993. His retirement years were filled with more travel, time with his grandchildren and gardening. John is survived by his children: John (Frances), Sally, David (Cheryl), Katie (Tom), Danny (Lynne), Martha (Jerry) and Mary (Eric), grandchildren, Karin (CJ), John, Elizabeth, Andy, Hannah (Eric), Tucker, Jake, Sophia, John Alec, Madison and Brenna, great grandchildren Addison and Knox, brother Robert, sisters Joan (Tom) Doucette and Carol (Tom) Reid, along with many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years, Mary and sister Jeanne Dean, brother-in-law Jim Dean, sister-in-law Dorothy and son-in-law Harry. Funeral mass will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Mapleton, WI at 1:00 p.m. Visitation for family and friends will be at Pagenkopf Funeral Home prior to the mass, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. with a funeral procession to the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc.