Clayton Sternhagen

Services for Clayton Sternhagen, 73, of Groton will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 4th at the First Presbyterian Church, Groton. Rev. Terry Kenny will officiate. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Clayton passed away February 1, 2012 at his residence in Groton.

Clayton Thomas was born on September 5, 1938 in Dante, SD to Tom and Lillian (Obr) Sternhagen. He attended country school and graduated from Avon High School in 1956. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and spent most of his time in the Washington, D.C. area with a nike missile unit. After his honorable discharge, he worked as a Ford mechanic in Albert Lea, Minnesota. On July 21, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Marie Hento in Springfield. In August of that year, they moved to Groton, where Clayton worked for 42 years at Pioneer Ford.



Clayton was a volunteer EMT Rescue squad member for 20 years and was very active in the Presbyterian Church, serving as Trustee and Elder.



He enjoyed motor cycling, snowmobiling, restoring cars and tractors. Clayton especially enjoyed trips with family and friends to the Black Hills. After his retirement, he and Marie traveled across the United States. He stayed very active attending grandchildren's sports, music and theater activities. He also loved hunting, fishing and coffee time with his friends.



Celebrating his life is his wife of 50 years, Marie; one
son, Craig (Jodi) Sternhagen of Groton; three daughters, Rhonda (Doug) Swanson of Aberdeen, Pam Sternhagen of Groton, Kris (Jared) Barger of Madison; his step-mother, Polly Sternhagen of Avon; his sister, Margo Nedved of Rapid City; step-sister, Vicky (Tom) Pileggi of Rochester, Minnesota and ten grandchildren.



Preceding him in death were his parents, Tom & Lillian Sternhagen.

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