Paul Carlton Clausen

Paul Carlton Clausen passed away peacefully on the morning of August 6, 2025, from heart failure, at the age of 93. He was born on December 7, 1931, in Luverne, Minnesota, to Nellie Colista Mae (Langford) Clausen and Lawerence Carlton Clausen. He is survived by his beloved older sister, Beverly Arlene (Clausen) Prokop. Paul spent his early years in both Minnesota and North Dakota, where he developed an appreciation for small-town life. He worked on his grandparents farm and played football for his high school team before moving west. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, where he participated in Army ROTC, and after graduation in 1958, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army lieutenant and served in Korea. Paul’s life took him across the Mountain West. His father operated a store in Weiser, Idaho, while his highly educated mother served as a school teacher. He later lived in Boise, Idaho and Washington before ultimately settling in Salt Lake City, Utah, which he made his home for roughly 60 years. Paul married Dawneeta Hart, and together they had three children who survive him: Pamela Clausen, Scott Clausen, and Krista Clausen. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Later, Paul married Carla Alexander, with whom he shared many years. Over the years, Paul worked in a wide variety of fields—insurance, food-service support for wildfire crews, doctors offices, Park City Ski Resort operations, and vehicle delivery where he was able to travel across the country. He was a man of wide-ranging passions: an avid photographer with countless images to his name, a devoted admirer of airplanes—especially vintage warbirds—and a regular at the Hill Air Force Base air show. He was an insatiable reader, favoring politics and World War II military history. Paul also embraced the cultural life of Salt Lake City. He could often be found at The Other Place, Dee’s, Gourmandise, Inkleys, Sam Weller’s Bookstore, Barnes & Noble or strolling through Liberty and Sugar House parks. He enjoyed the symphony, the Sundance Film Festival, and cheering on college football and basketball. You could also find him behind a camera at one of his grandkids high school soccer games. Paul lived independently until age 91, when dementia led him to live with his son Scott in Hurricane, Utah. In his final six months, he was cared for at the VA home in St. George. He will be remembered by his sharp wit, gregarious demeanor and his passion for capturing everyday life through his camera lens. Survivors: sister Beverly Arlene (Clausen) Prokop; children Pamela Clausen, Scott (Christine) Clausen, and Krista Clausen; nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren.

Paul Carlton Clausen

December 7, 1931 - August 6, 2025