Dr. W. Joseph Claflin, Jamestown, ND passed away on December 7, 2020 at the age of 87 after a brief devastating battle with COVID-19. He was born August 21, 1933 in Mondovi, Wisconsin to Oral Gaard and Cleo Jeannette Claflin (Nyre).
Joe graduated from Aberdeen High School, attended North Dakota State University, graduated from Northern State Teachers; College, Aberdeen, SD in 1955, majoring in Biology. He played football at NDSU and was an All-Conference football player at Northern State Teachers’ College. He married the love of his life E. Maurine Lewis in June 1955.
Joe began his 50-year teaching career in Kensington, MN, and Watertown High School, Watertown, SD while pursuing his Master’s Degree, receiving his Master of Arts Degree in Zoology and Botany from the University of SD in 1962.