PAWNEE – James Edward Clauser, 87, of Pawnee, Illinois, died Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, at his home in Pawnee. Jim was born Oct. 14, 1929, in Pawnee, the son of James and Mary E. Bartok Clauser. Jim married Judith A. Staley on July 3, 1972, in Nassau, Bahamas. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Rick A. McCarty; and two sisters, Mildred Clauser and Dorothy Vespa. He and his wife Judy were co-owners of Crown Trucking in Pawnee. James dropped out of school at the age of 16 to start trucking, hauling coal and trash. He was drafted into the U.S. Army from March 1951 to March 1953, of which he served nine months in Korea. When he returned home, he started hauling hogs across the country. He became associated with Crown Packing in Detroit, Michigan, and hauled for them until 1978. He then hauled dump trucks locally. He is survived by his wife, Judy, of Pawnee; two sons, James L. (wife, Lynn) Clauser and Steven E. (companion, Michelle Schober) Clauser, both of Pawnee; one daughter, Cynthia A. Clauser, of Sacramento, California; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Per his request, cremation rites were accorded. A celebration of life service will be scheduled for a later date. Memorials honoring James may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 4400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is serving the family of James Clauser.