Claus Heinrich Jons, 80, of Wahoo, NE, formerly of Mead, NE died Monday, January 9, 2023, at Saunders Medical Center-Long Term Care Unit in Wahoo. Mr. Jons will be cremated, his life will be celebrated during the 2023 Fonner Park Race meet. Details will be provided when they become available. You are encouraged to direct cards or memorials in care of Barb Goedeken, 4460 A Road, Columbus, NE 68601. Memorials will be given to the HPBA in Claus' memory. You are welcome to sign Claus' guestbook at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under his obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Claus was born September 9, 1942, in Schleswig Holstein, West Germany. He was the son of Nikolaus and Catharine M. (Gottburg) Jons. He received his education in West Germany and continued his schooling for three years at a Blacksmith Trade School. He learned all phases of shoeing including the making of shoes, corrective horseshoeing as well as being versed in farm machinery use and repair, and both gas and electric welding. After his schooling he served one and a half years in the West Germany Army, obtaining rank equivalent to Corporal in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged in 1963. Claus immigrated to the United States in June of 1964. He worked for two years in Schleswig, Iowa for Johannes Gotesch as a blacksmith and in farm machinery repair. In 1967 he worked at Ford Farm in Valley, NE as a blacksmith and assistant in breeding and foaling of the broodmares. In 1972 he obtained and Owner-Trainers license in Nebraska as well as a Farriers license. Claus trained and raced at all of the Nebraska racetracks and also continued shoeing for many other trainers as well. He was an excellent judge of quality in hay and feeds and shod horses for work, show, trotters, pacers, pleasure, and racing. He was an all-around hand! Claus was a member of the HBPA and Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He is remembered by his nieces, Silke and Conny of West Germany and his close friend Barb Goedeken of Columbus, NE and her children Kirby Sutton and Steven Staroscik. He is preceded in death by his parents.