HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG5324.AM: Clayton Lee Klasna, 1923-2000
Correspondence: 1940-1947; mostly 1944-1947
Roca, Lancaster County, Nebraska: Soldier
Size: 2.0 cu.ft.; 2 boxes
BACKGROUND NOTE
Clayton Lee Klasna, son of James and Edith (Whidden) Klasna, was born on a farm near Spencer, Nebraska, on May 22, 1923. He graduated from Spencer High School and attended business school in Mitchell, South Dakota. Klasna served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Elaine Counts at Butte, Nebraska, on June 30, 1947. The couple had two children, Dennis and Janet. Clayton farmed near Spencer before working as a parts manager for the local Chevrolet dealership. Later he worked at Anoka Grain Company, managed the Farmers’ Union grain elevator in Spencer, and worked for Haun Trucking and Spencer Livestock. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the local American Legion post. Clayton Lee Klasna died on April 4, 2000, and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Spencer, Nebraska.
Elaine (Counts) Klasna, daughter of Walter and Clara (Reiser) Counts, was born on a farm near Butte, Nebraska, on October 17, 1927. She attended Butte High School, Wayne State College and graduated from the University of South Dakota, Springfield. She taught in the rural Spencer schools until her marriage to Clayton Klasna in 1947. She returned to teaching in 1959, and taught at Lynch Public School from 1965 until her retirement in 1989. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the American Auxiliary. Elaine (Counts) Klasna died on April 21, 1999, and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Spencer, Nebraska.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of four boxes of letters mostly written between Clayton L. Klasna and Elaine I. Counts during Klasna’s service in World War II. Klasna’s letters describe military life in various military camps. Counts’ letters describe family life and local news from around Butte, Nebraska. See the index and transcripts of letters for more information. Also included is one folder containing copies of portraits and a snapshot of Clayton Klasna and Elaine Counts.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Folder
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- Correspondence index
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- Correspondence, 1940-March 5, 1944
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- Correspondence, March 22, 1944-May 11, 1944
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- Correspondence, May 14, 1944-December 31, 1944
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- Correspondence, January 1945-April 1945
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- Correspondence, May 1945-October 23, 1945
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- Correspondence, October 24, 1945-October 31, 1945
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- Correspondence, November 1945-November 13, 1945
Box 2
Folder
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- Correspondence, November 13, 1945-November 25, 1945
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- Correspondence, November 26, 1945-January 4, 1946
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- Correspondence, January 5, 1946-January 17, 1946
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- Correspondence, January 18, 1946-January 25, 1946
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- Correspondence, January 26, 1946-February 6, 1946
Box 3
Folder
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- Correspondence, February 21, 1946-March 11, 1946
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- Correspondence, March 13, 1946-April 3, 1946
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- Correspondence, April 4, 1946-May 6, 1946
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- Correspondence, May 7, 1946-May 23, 1946
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- Correspondence, May 25, 1946-July 16, 1946
Box 4
Folder
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- Correspondence, July 23, 1946-September 13, 1946
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- Correspondence, September 15, 1946-October 11, 1946
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- Correspondence, October 12, 1946-March 3, 1947
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- Correspondence, March 6, 1947-May 1, 1947
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- Copies of photos
Subject headings:
Klasna, Clayton Lee, 1923-2000
Klasna, Elaine I. (Counts), 1927-1999
Military life
Soldiers — Nebraska
World War, 1939-1945
TMM 01-08-2019