Claire Elwyn Richardson, age 84, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 with his family by his side. He was born Jan. 13, 1933 in Cable, WI to the late Clinton and Florence (Walker) Richardson. He attended school in Cable and graduated from Watertown High School in 1951. He attended U. W. River Falls graduating with a B.S. in Education in 1955. It was there he met his wife Sylvia Anderson; they were wed the weekend after graduation; June 11, 1955. Claire enlisted in the United States Air Force that fall and served at Amarillo Air Force Base teaching re-fueling school until 1959 when his active service was up. He later re-enlisted and served in the Wisconsin National Guard until he retired.

Claire started teaching High School Biology in Sauk Prairie in 1962; a career that spanned almost 30 years until he retired in 1990. When Claire wasn't busy teaching school he kept himself busy preparing taxes at the H&R Block Franchises that he owned in Waunakee, Mt. Horeb, Cross Plains, and Sauk Prairie. He recently sold his last H&R Block office in Sauk Prairie in 2012. In the 1970's, during the summer months, he operated Badgerland Lake Specialists; treating area lakes for algae. He enjoyed playing poker and sheepshead with his friends, watching the Packers beat the Vikings, fishing, camping, traveling, tending to his lawn at home, and spending time with his family at their vacation home in Cable. He was a member of the Duck's Unlimited, Lion's Club, and St. John's Lutheran Church in Prairie du Sac.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sylvia; 3 daughters, Robertta "Bobbi" (Brad) Von Behren, Jo Anna (Scott Richard) Breunig, Mary Richardson; 8 grandchildren, Nickie (Jay) Fisher, Scott (Gwen) Dyrud, Megan (Jordan) Frey, Shea (Ben) Ganser, Casey (special friend, Erin Ballweg) Schroeder, Abby (fiancé, Devon Rogers) Schroeder, Erin Breunig, and Jack Gorsuch; 5 great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Olin Frey, Dylann and Marli Fisher, and Henry "Hank" Ganser; foreign exchange daughters, Irma Gonzalez of El Salvador, Lore Ebeling of Australia, and Anne Polart of France; a sister, Annette Umbreit; many other relatives and friends.

Claire's family will remember him for the jitterbug lessons he provided, his marvelous dance moves, his constant support and his incredible sense of humor. "See you in church if you sit by the window."

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Fri. Sept. 22, 2017 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 100 Oak St., Prairie du Sac. A visitation will be held on Thurs. Sept. 21, 2017 at Hooverson Funeral Home, 251 Water St., Sauk City, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm, and the morning of the service from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at the church. Military Honors will be accorded by the Lachmund-Cramer VFW Post 7694.

Claire's family would like to express their sincerest thanks to Dr. Barclay Shultz and his nurse, Deb Krueger, Dr. Allissa Weber and the Dean Oncology Team, Sauk Prairie Health Care, Ballweg Family Pharmacy, Home Health United and Agrace Hospice for their care and support.