“It’s what we do in our ordinary everyday life that makes us who we are,” this week’s Life in the Spotlight, Joe Claesgens, says. With that being said, who is Joe? A sincere and genuine individual, Joe is incredibly active in the Valparaiso community and believes deeply in getting to know everyone he meets on a personal level.
“I enjoy life,” he says, and it is obvious through the many ways he contributes to the Valparaiso community that he enjoys a life of giving and sincerity.
A transplant to the Valparaiso area, Joe was born in Gary, Indiana, and grew up in Indiana Harbor. Upon graduating from Bishop Noll High School, Joe enlisted in the Navy and served as a loan officer until 1959. Through this he came to find Valparaiso, and after some time in Denver, Colorado, he finally settled back here in 1963, working as a banker at Northern Indiana Bank.
While working at the bank, Joe began a collection. At his office on Calumet Avenue he would display gifts given to him by customers he worked with. Soon he began to receive a number of Santa Claus gifts. They began to form a collection that is over 1,000 strong today. Joe has so many Santa Claus items that he gives tours at his house. He receives Santas mainly as gifts and he has everything from military campaign posters to handmade paintings created by friends and family. Each Santa he receives as a gift is tagged with a name and date upon which he received it, and many have a fun time searching the collection to find their gifted Santa.
“Half the fun is in finding and receiving the Santas. The other half is in sharing them,” Joe said when I asked what made him decide to offer tours of his collection. Each year you can also find a portion of Joe’s collection on display at the Kouts Public Library.
Joe isn’t just a collector of Santas, however. He is a very active participant in community service and activities. Joe is heavily involved with his church, does work with the Family House on Glendale, and has chaired the hospice advisory board and spent much time working with the Visiting Nurse Association.
“Non-profits can’t make it without volunteers,” he says, “We need everybody. If everyone could give even just two hours a week we could make such a difference.”
Joe’s daily source of inspiration comes from his involvement with his church. He has served on the pastoral council for three years and both he and his wife spend a lot of time participating within the church. He also finds inspiration through others. “I find people so interesting,” he said, “I love to ask what they’re about. It’s important to ask questions, open-ended questions. You can learn so much.”
When asked to what he owes his success in life, Joe responded with, “My dad. He taught me to always do more than I’m expected to do.” Joe also remarked on his luck in life when it comes to love. “I’ve got a really cool wife. She has a real soul about things.” The two of them have five children and will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this Valentine’s Day.
When he’s not volunteering or participating at his church, Joe enjoys gardening as well. He and his wife attend gardening shows and Joe has a backyard full of gardens and unique displays.
It’s not difficult to see the positive impact Joe has made on the Valparaiso community. Known as “Grandpa Joe” on the block, Joe is a man of sincerity and genuine compassion for others. “Make sure you make good choices in life. Ask about people. Learn to listen,” he says by way of advice. This is what makes Joe who he is, a wonderful member of the Valparaiso community and an inspiration in the way of living well and showing compassion for others.