Claire M. Moser
Claire Martin Moser, 85, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 19, 2021.
Claire was born April 8, 1936, in Guttenberg, to Martin and Hazel Moser. He grew up and attended schools in Guttenberg. He joined the U. S. Navy at the age of 17 after earning his G.E.D. He was stationed in San Dieg0, Calif. where he achieved the rank of Electrician Mate Second Class. Claire was honorably discharged in March 1957. Claire graduated Cum Laude from Upper Iowa University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in science in 1963. He attended graduate school at the University of Nebraska from 1963-1967 where he studied physics and in 1997, he earned a Master’s degree in waste management from the University of Idaho.
In his youth, Claire learned the value of working hard. He worked with a friend fishing the mighty Mississippi River. He was happily referred to as a “river rat” by those who knew him, and he was proud of the fact that he could swim the span of the Mississippi. Claire also worked on local farms cleaning barns, “butchering” hogs, milking cows, picking and selling vegetables and fruits (“5 cents for a musk melon”) and he worked at Patzner’s dairy. He learned carpentry by working for a local manufacturer where he built cabinets and trimmed out trailers. While working at Patzner’s dairy, he met the love of his life, Lois Jean Nuehring. On Oct. 1, 1955, he married Lois Jean in Guttenberg. Claire and Lois lived in San Diego, Calif. while Claire served in the Navy. They lived in Fayette, and Lincoln, Neb., while Claire attended college. After college, Claire and Lois moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where they raised their children, Randy, Ronda, Misti, and Kristi. Claire worked as a nuclear physicist for several companies, including Phillips Petroleum, Aerojet Nuclear, and Energy Incorporated. After retiring from his career in the nuclear physics and energy industry, he worked 15-plus years for Christ Community Church as a handyman and for the City of Idaho Falls as a caretaker of several city parks. Claire will always be synonymous with being a damn hard worker.
Claire loved spending time in the outdoors, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. Idaho was the perfect place for him to live and raise his family. Some of his best fishing adventures were with his children and grandchildren on Big Elk Creek and Willow Creek near Kepp’s crossing. During the winter he would take his children and grandchildren ice fishing on Palisades reservoir. He enjoyed steel head fishing on the the Salmon River and camping at “orchard hole.” He took his family on many memorable camping trips to Iron Bog and Copper Basin. Claire also went deer and elk hunting at Tincup with his son and daughter and several life-long friends. He enjoyed hunting ducks, geese, partridge, dove, pheasant and grouse with his son and grandson.
Claire was a keen card player especially bid euchre and bridge. He was a man who would tackle any project and he could fix or repurpose anything and would drop anything he was doing to help out one of his children. One Christmas he made five oak porch swings, one for each child and one for Lois. They are family treasures, a true gift from his heart. Claire was very quick witted with a bit of a silly side. He enjoyed country music, especially Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, and Eddie Arnold. He had a wonderful singing voice that he only shared with a few special people.
Claire also loved his hometown and his Iowa roots. His idea of the perfect summer vacation was returning to the Nuehring family farm and the town of Guttenberg. He truly loved visiting his siblings and Lois’ siblings. He had many happy and wonderful memories and life-long friends in Guttenberg.
Claire is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Lois Moser of Idaho Falls, Idaho; daughters, Ronda (Greg) Rasmussen of Rigby, Idaho, Misti (Tom) Lillo of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Kristi Moser-McIntire of Idaho Falls, Idaho; grandchildren, Ryan (Heather) McDaniel of Malabar Fla., AJ (Bri) Rasmussen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Michelle (Adam) Triplett of Boise, Idaho, Marie (Jasper) Williams of Chubbuck, Idaho, Megan Moser (Matt Nielsen) of Seward, Alaska, Morgan McIntire, McKenzie McIntire, and Justin McIntire, all of Idaho Falls, Idaho; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Brenda Allman of Guttenberg.
He was preceded in death by his son, Randy Moser; his parents; one brother and four sisters.
He will be forever loved and remembered by his children and his grandchildren. His absence will be deeply felt during family gatherings, birthday parties, Christmas celebrations, Thanksgiving gatherings, Easter egg hunts, 4th of July barbecues, graduations, and weddings. We love you, and you gave us more greatness than you could have ever known. Thank you dad for your character, and for being a character.
In lieu of a formal funeral service, the family will gather at a future date to honor, celebrate, cry, laugh, eat, and tell stories of Claire; husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, brother, and friend.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.
