George Gerald Clausen

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George Gerald Clausen was born in the Woodlake Hospital on June 25, 1929, to George and Etta Lulu (Ragle) Clausen. He grew up in the Naranjo area (between Woodlake and Lemon Cove) and attended Woodlake Schools, graduating in 1947. After High School he attended Visalia College (COS) and then the university of California Berkeley from 1949 to 1951. On June 15, 1951, he enlisted in the US Air Force as an airman before entering the Aviation Cadet Training program. He graduated from pilot training on October 25, 1952, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. George was only one of three in his class that were offered a regular commission into the Air Force. He piloted the F-80, F-84, F-86, 

F-100, F-105 and F-111 aircraft. Over his career he completed Squadron Officer School, Armed Forces Staff College, and the Air War College.  He flew combat over North Vietnam (100 missions in Operation Rolling Thunder) serving as Commander of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, while based at Karat Royal Thai Air Force Base. All operations were over North Vietnam or were in support of CIA operations in Laos. Later George served in NATO and was Director of Fighter Operations for USAF Europe. The Colonel’s last assignment was Director of Plans for 9th Air Force (Tactical Air Command). 

​Over the span of his career, he was stationed in France, Germany, Thailand, Arizona, Nevada, Virginia, Alabama, and South Carolina. George was decorated with the Silver Star twice, the Legion of Merit twice, the Distinguished Flying Cross three times, and the Air Medal sixteen times, among many other commendations and service medals.

​While he was stationed at Williams AFB he met his wife Ruth Hess in Phoenix, Arizona. They were married on January 4, 1957, in Mesa, Arizona. They raised four children: Margaret, George Henry, Nancy, and Kathy. They lived the nomadic life of a military family, traveling all over the United States and Europe.

​After retirement from the USAF after 26 years in 1977, he moved back to where he was born and raised in Woodlake. He became an orange grower again, farming the grove his grandfather planted in 1905. During this time, he also was an adjunct teacher at COS. Since his major at Berkely was Soil Science, he taught the Soils, Fertilizers, Economic Entomology, Citrus, Irrigation, and Forage Crop Science classes. In 1990, he left teaching to devote himself full time to farming. George was a member of the Tulare County Farm Bureau Land Use Committee and on the Board of Sierra Citrus. He was a founding member of the WHS foundation, served on the Woodlake Public Cemetery Board for 41 years, and faithfully served the Lemon Cove Community Church in leadership roles up until the end.

George “flew west “on November 21, 2024, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his daughters, Margaret Rodriquez of Bakersfield, Nancy Gordon (Curt) of Woodlake, and Kathy Clausen de Contreras (Erick) of Sacramento. In addition, he is survived by 5 grandchildren, Kris, Karen, Erika, Ben, and George Ian. George was loved by so many people in his church and community. He was a kind and quiet man of faith with a big presence who will be greatly missed.

​In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in George’s honor to : Lemon Cove Community Church PO Box 4414 Lemon Cove CA 93244, Lemon Cove Women’s Club, PO Box 44307, Lemon Cove, CA 93244, Woodlake High School Foundation: PO Box 475, Woodlake, CA 93286

A Celebration of Life will take place for Mr. Clausen on Saturday, December 14th at Cornerstone Church in Woodlake at 11:15 A.M. Directly following services will be a reception at the Woodlake Veteran's Building

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