In Memoriam

  

Claude Hone
1920 - 2019

Claude F. Hone was born at home on February 5, 1920 in Alcester, South Dakota. As a child he moved with his family to Sioux Falls, SD where he attended grade school and graduated from Washington High School in 1938. Claude then attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls from 1939 to 1940 before working in the office at John Morrell & Company.
 

Claude enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on November 12, 1941, just before Pearl Harbor because he wanted to stop Hitler who was invading France. From an enlisted man, he rose in the ranks to become a Marine fighter pilot aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. Claude flew the gull-winged Corsair and saw combat action supporting the invasions of Guam, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was also one of the first 8 Marines to attack and strafe the Tokyo airfield and only one of four survivors.
 

While still serving, Claude married the love of his life, Julie (Ethel) Schneider on July 14, 1945 in Daytona Beach, Fl. Following his honorable discharge on January 8, 1946, the couple made their home in Sioux Falls.  In 1946 and 1947, Claude flew the p-51 Mustang fighter plane with Joe Foss in the South Dakota Air National guard, putting on many air shows for the surrounding towns. His automobile license plate, TOP GUN, honored his time as a fighter pilot in the Marines.
 

As the holder of Real Estate Salesman’s license #1, the first license issued in the State of South Dakota, Claude pursued a career in real estate for over 60 years. He was past-president of the Sioux Falls Board of Realtors as well as past-state president and past regional vice-president of the National Association of Realtors.
 

Claude was active at the YMCA since he was seven years old. Claude was a member of the Downtown Lions Club and a life-member of the American Legion. After moving to Saint Paul, he joined Saint Paul Rotary in 2011.  An avid golfer, he still played early morning golf almost every morning well into his late nineties. Claude always walked the course because he said that is why you were there -- to get exercise. He always thought those golf carts should be banned except for special uses.
 

Claude, a well-known Sioux Falls Realtor, died August 27 at the age of 99 and almost 7 months. On June 6, while getting ready to go to Sioux Falls from Saint Paul for several months of golf, dance and play, he fell and hit his head which produced a cascade of events that ended his life.

 

Claude is survived by daughters Nancy Hone of Saint Paul, Cheryl Hawker of Charleston Illinois, and their families, as well as many friends. We will all miss his warm smile, twinkling blue eyes and his hearty laugh and his positive mental attitude and his huge sense of adventure.

 

We request that this memorial resolution be read into the minutes of the Rotary Club of Saint Paul and that a copy be sent to his family members.

 

Memorial Committee

        Darrell Butterwick

        Sherry Howe

        Susan O’Neil