Richard Jack Claywell

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Claywell, Richard Jack Age 79 of Mound, passed away June 21, 2016, of complications from a broken hip. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Survived by his wife Suzanne of 49 years and his son Mark. He graduated from Waukegan High School and attended Lake Forest College. Dick loved cars and at 16 got his first car - a Model A Ford that was not running. He replaced the A engine with a C and spent 1-1/2 years rebuilding it with overhead valves that gave it 74 hp. Over the years, he had a MG TD, MGA, Porsche 356, Mercedes 190 SL, Mercedes 450 SL, Porsche 914, and a Porsche Speedster he rebuilt and sold to help pay for a honeymoon In July 1967. Music was his main interest he was first chair oboist in high school, had a woodwind quintet, and played in the Chicago Youth Symphony and City Band. He took lessons from Chicago Symphony's first chair oboist. For six years, he won first place medals in Illinois. In 1952, he was accepted at National Music Camp in Interlochen, MI, and awarded a partial oboe scholarship for orchestra and band. Thinking he would be drafted, in 1958 he enlisted in the Army in electronics. When electronics was not listed at his induction, he refused to sign until new orders came. Electronics was useful throughout his life as he became a manufacturers rep for thermostat and thermistor companies and a marketing manager for 10 years at Sensors and Switches, a UTC division in Ohio. During the Cuban crisis, he was selected as one of the two best radio operators. They were issued special clothes and given the manual for a radio they had never trained on and were told it would come later. He thought they might be dropped in without ever having parachuted. Dick was very mechanical, analytical, and patient. He could fix anything and learn on his own by reading a book. He had never sailed before buying a 28-foot E scow and learned from reading sailing books and practicing and then racing on White Bear Lake and in a few regattas. In 1970, he and his wife bought an old house in Mahtomedi built with lumber from an old hotel on White Bear Lake. On closing day, he gutted the kitchen and between making business calls in MN, WI, and IA, he did all the work himself. As a rep calling on appliance manufacturers, he was able to buy a Corning glass top stove and a microwave which were the latest at that time. His experience in the service with Nike Ajax circuitry helped in replacing knob and tube wiring with conduit wiring in the entire house. In 1976, he took a job in Illinois with Eaton in national gas valve sales. Not liking the prevalent Tudor style houses for sale, he decided to draw house plans for a French provincial style house. As he flew around the country, he carried a large Samsonite suitcase with a drafting board, sliding ruler, drafting tools, architectural spec book for figuring loads, and a light bulb to replace the dim motel bulb at night. Except for needing a draftsman to work on the foundation plan, it was approved by the city of St. Charles, IL. Dick worked as a marketing manager in Ohio from 1983 to 1994 and at the end, he also managed operations and engineering. Then he returned to Minnesota as a manufacturing rep for thermostats, optics, and LEDs. He and his family enjoyed 10 years of living on Lake Minnetonka with a spectacular view of Spring Park Bay and his 24-foot Sea Ray power boat. After a major stroke in 2005 and not being able to drive, Dick saw an ad on TV for a power wheelchair and arranged by himself to buy one. It was used to go fishing, go to bridge, and at night to go 5 miles on the Dakota trail to St. Bonifacius for Texas Hold'em poker at Grumpy's. A LED flashlight he installed under the armrest was the only light on the 5 miles back in the dark. He bought PVC tubes at the hardware to hold fishing rods and had them installed with hose clamps at an auto body shop. He always had a collection of tools to adjust his footrests, extension cord for a charge if needed, cellphone, and garage door opener. He liked going to the hardware for free popcorn and miscellaneous items and the grocery store to buy the food he liked. He would also buy his wife bouquets of flowers, orchids, and every other day a card signed "Love, Jack". A short gravesite ceremony with military honors was held Friday, June 24, at Sunset Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Published on July 3, 2016