Clayton L. Wornson, 92, of 2414 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, died
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at the Calvin Manor Assisted Living Health
Center, Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 5, at
the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess
officiating. Internment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to the Clayton L. Wornson memorial fund. Clayton
Wornson was born July 29, 1914 in Brookings, S.D. of second generation
Norwegian-American parents Harry and Elvina Wornson. Spending his
childhood in Mankato, Minn., he was active in the Boy Scouts, earning
the Eagle Scout distinction and acting frequently as bugler for military
ceremonies. Following high school, during the Great Depression, he
traveled to Washington D.C. with an intent to study law. In Washington
he worked, studied law, sang in a traveling quartet and obtained a law
degree from American University. He met Lillie Louise Wolf, who was
employed in Washington in the social security administration as an
assistant to the US attorney general. They were married in 1938. He
joined the Navy at the beginning of World War II and served as an
officer assigned to convoy duty in the North Atlantic and as a
lieutenant on the aircraft carrier USS Guadalcanal. Following the war
Lillie and Clayton settled in Mason City and their family grew from two
sons to five. Mr. Wornson was active in the business community as
traffic manager for the Brick and Tile Company and as a Rotarian. He was
also a musician and played the piano and several other instruments. He
conducted the chamber of commerce male choir of over 100 voices, sang in
church services and at weddings, directed the combined church choir's
performance of Handel's Messiah and served as cantor in the Jewish
synagogue. With the decline and demise of the Brick and Tile Company in
the early 1960's Mr. Wornson re-studied the law, passed the Iowa bar
exam, and was elected as Cerro Gordo County attorney in 1962. He served
as county attorney for 17 years. After leaving public office, Mr Wornson
continued to practice law in Mason City well into his 80's and led a
full life with Lillie at their home on Clear Lake. Mr. Wornson was
active in public affairs and especially in his later life, a passionate
advocate for progressive government, civil rights and the economic
interests of the less advantaged. Mr. Wornson began making wine in the
early 1970's which became a lifelong passion. He served many times as
president of the North Iowa Wine Club and won many ribbons for his wines
at the North Iowa Fair. He was recently honored for his 60 years as a
Rotarian. Clayton is survived by his wife, Lillie Wornson, of Clear
Lake; five sons, Richard F. (Catherine H.) Wornson of New Prague, Minn.;
Thomas A. Wornson of Corte Madera, Calif., Douglas P. (Barbara) Wornson
of Northfield, Minn., Jamie W. (Diana) Wornson and David L. (Laurie)
Wornson of Des Moines, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Frances Wornson and her
husband, Michael Hartung ,of Cross Lake, Minn.; brother, Arnie (Bernice)
Wornson and their children, Nancy, Kathy and Mary of Mankato, Minn.; 10
grandchildren, John, Kristin, Eric, Katie, Elizabeth, John, Nick, David,
Lexi and Jessie. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents.