Claude Warren Babcock III, 70

Claude Warren Babcock III, age 70 of Lawler, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with the Rev. Nick Radloff officiating the Mass. 

Interment was held in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Lawler.

Friends greeted the family from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton. Visitation continued an hour prior to the Mass at the church in Lawler on Monday.  

Online condolences may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.

Claude was born on Feb. 10, 1951, to Claude and Regina (Martin) Babcock in New Hampton, and he was the oldest of the Babcock’s six children.

He received his education at St. Joseph Community School and New Hampton public schools, and in high school, he played football and wrestled for the Chickasaws before graduating with the Class of 1969, the first group to receive their diplomas, at what was then the new high school.

Claude met the love if his life, Nancy Burgart at a party. The two were married on April 28, 1973, and lived in New Hampton for a short while before moving to Lawler.

The Babcocks had five daughters — Rhonda, Amanda, Jayda, Jill, and Erica. Claude was their “super fan”, as he and Nancy attended all of their sporting events and other school activities, and the Babcock girls always knew their parents were in their “corner.”

Family was everything to Claude. Before his girls were active in sports, camping and fishing were regular activities. Although, truth be told, he didn’t get all that much fishing in because he was baiting hooks, removing fish and untangling lines! Once his girls became involved in sports, Claude could be found in the stands cheering them on, rarely missing an event. His daughters will tell you that their father had the patience of Job and that it took a “lot to rile up” Dad.

Claude worked several jobs before finding the position — in the Parts Department at Vern Laures Auto Center — made for him. He was a hard-working employee who always did his best for the dealership and its customers, before retiring in the fall of 2016, after more than 33 years of dedicated service.

He loved his Turkey Valley Trojans and was a long-time supporter of the Turkey Valley Athletic Boosters. He was the brainchild behind the activity calendars that were a part of homes and businesses throughout the school district. In retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the “paint crew” for the football field.

Claude was a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and although his favorites were football, wrestling and basketball, if a team was playing with a Tigerhawk on the jersey, Claude was rooting for it! He loved attending Iowa football games with anyone, but, the best was when he could go to a game and tailgate with his dad and his brothers.

In retirement, Claude picked up where he left off, supporting the many activities of his grandkids. If he wasn’t watching a sport, he could be found at Jackson Heights Golf Course improving his golf game. He enjoyed golfing with Nancy, grandkids, sons-in-law, daughters, or anyone, for that matter.

He loved his community and his church. He enjoyed helping with Lawler’s Irish Fest celebration and drove a golf cart all over town to chauffeur people to and from various events. Claude was also a longtime member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler.

Claude was an awesome, doting grandfather to his 13 grandchildren, and he told everyone that it was those grandkids who “make me tick.” And he also loved Red, the cocker spaniel; the two were the best of friends and inseparable.

This gentle, personable, neighborly man will be dearly missed, but, Claude leaves his wife of almost 49 years, his five daughters, those 13 grandchildren, and his legion of friends and co-workers with so many wonderful memories.

Claude is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Lawler; his daughters, Rhonda (Ronnie) Dreckman of New Hampton, Amanda (Chad) Rockow of Stockton, Jayda (Dean) Dietzenbach of Protivin, Jill (Jason) Maklenburg of Lawler, and Erica (Eric) Bodensteiner of Waucoma; 13 beloved grandchildren; two brothers, Steve (Shirley) Babcock of New Hampton, and Michael (Kathy) Babcock of New Hampton; two sisters, Rosemary (Dennis) Carpenter of  North Washington, and Kate Schmidtke of Kansas City, Missouri; Nancy’s siblings, Cindy (Larry) Heying of New Hampton, Michael (Julie) Burgart of Cedar Falls, Sue (Randy) Breitbach of New Hampton, Bonnie Collins (Warren) of Cedar Falls, Steven (Joan) Burgart of Florida, Stan (Audra) Burgart of New Hampton, Denise (Randy) Ayers of Lidderdale, Wendy (Kevin) Einck of New Hampton, and Carol (Steve) Anderson of New Hampton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Phillip Babcock; granddaughter, Magdaline Dietzenbach; and stepdad, Dewey Leichtman.