Dr. W. Joseph Claflin, Jamestown, ND passed away on December 7, 2020 at the age of 87 after a brief devastating battle with COVID-19. He was born August 21, 1933 in Mondovi, Wisconsin to Oral Gaard and Cleo Jeannette Claflin (Nyre).
Joe graduated from Aberdeen High School, attended North Dakota State University, graduated from Northern State Teachers; College, Aberdeen, SD in 1955, majoring in Biology. He played football at NDSU and was an All-Conference football player at Northern State Teachers’ College. He married the love of his life E. Maurine Lewis in June 1955.
Joe began his 50-year teaching career in Kensington, MN, and Watertown High School, Watertown, SD while pursuing his Master’s Degree, receiving his Master of Arts Degree in Zoology and Botany from the University of SD in 1962.
In 1965, Joe and his family moved to Jamestown, ND where he began an 18-year tenure of teaching at Jamestown College. Joe earned full professorship as well as Chairman of the Science Department following completion of his Doctor of Arts in Teaching in Biology from the University of North Dakota in 1972. While at Jamestown College, he was recognized as Outstanding Faculty Person of the Year on two occasions. In addition to academia, he also was the assistant football coach for the Jimmies and was inducted into the Jimmie Football Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1984, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa where Joe took a position as a Biology Professor at Morningside College. Joe’s dedication to teaching and students was recognized when he received several honors: Faculty Person of the Year, Outstanding Faculty Award, and upon retirement, received the highest honor as Professor Emeritus and the Order of Morningside. During his tenure at both colleges, he felt it was imperative that his students experience the natural world first-hand. He provided his students with environmental field experiences throughout the United States that would lead to a better understanding of natural ecosystems. He also worked in conjunction with the Army Corp of Engineers, US Forest Service, and the Sierra Club. He collaborated on research projects with local, regional, and state environmental organizations.
Even in his retirement at Diamondhead Community, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Joe continued providing students with his knowledge of the environment as an adjunct professor at College of the Ouachitas, Malvern, Arkansas, as well as teaching Biology and Environmental Studies for the prison population at Arkansas State Prison-Quachita River, Malvern, Arkansas. Throughout Joe’s life he instilled the values of self-development, growth, life-long learning, and the value of enjoying every moment. He valued life, learning, advocating for the environment and developing meaningful relationships.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Oral Gaard and Cleo Claflin (Nyre), his sister Dr. Alice Claflin and his beloved wife of 65 years, E. Maurine Claflin (Lewis).
He is survived by his brother Dr. Thomas Claflin (Louise), his children, Craig Claflin (Beverly) Edina, MN, Caryn Claflin, Jamestown, ND, Colleen Fettig (Kevin), Fargo, ND, Courtney Claflin, Orinda, CA, and Cyle Claflin (Kate), Urbandale, Iowa, 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express our thankfulness and appreciation for the caring and dedicated staffs at Edgewood Living Center, JRMC, and Sanford Medical Center.
Memorial may be sent to: The Sierra Club for environmental conservancy.
A small family service is planned for next year in Rapid City, SD.
Eddy Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.