Gertrude Harrison Claus, a resident of Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream, died Friday, April 29 at the age of 101.

Trudie Claus was born January 30, 1910 in Pittsburgh, PA to adventurous, pioneer missionary parents who had just returned from ministering to miners in the Alaskan Gold Rush. The family then moved to Seattle, WA where she lived for 13 years before relocating to St. Louis where she graduated high school.

She attended and graduated from Wheaton College in 1932 and then entered nursing school at Evanston Hospital where she became a Registered Nurse. While in college, she met and later married her late husband, Dr. Wilbur Claus who died in 1991 after 53 years of marriage.

Trudie and her husband raised four boys, who were each born in a different state, as the traveling gene seemed to be part of the Claus family too. Upon retirement they left their California home to return the Wheaton area where they were among the first residents at Windsor Manor.

She is survived by four sons, Wil Jr. (Dorothea) Claus of Washington, Dr. Tom Claus (Gail) of New Jersey, Dr. David (Esther) Claus of River Forest, and Rev. Dr. Robert (Joyce) Claus of Arizona, eight grandchildren and six great- grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 4, at 1:30pm at Windsor Park Manor, 110 Windsor Park Dr., Carol Stream. Interment will be privately held at the Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Christian Missions in Many Lands, P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, New Jersey, 07662.