Kenneth Alton, ‘Ken’ Clauser, 85, of Allentown, photographer, “Opnemmer,” musician, historian, and author, whose photographs appeared under the photo credit, “Photo by Ken Clauser”, died Feb. 17, 2018, in The Lutheran Home at Topton of natural causes.

He and his wife, Alma Ellen (Kunkel) Clauser, were married 62 years last Sept. 24.

Born May 24, 1932, in Cementon, he was the son of the late Alton L.R. and the late Margaret Mae (Nagel) Clauser, and the stepson of the late Michael H. Lansky.

He was raised by his paternal grandparents, Benjamin P. and Lillie M. Clauser of Schnecksville, and his maternal grandparents, Harry F. and Helen A. Nagel of Egypt.

In the 1940s, he became the first Evening Chronicle Newspaper carrier in Schnecksville and worked for his stepfather at the former M.H. Lansky Service Station, Whitehall.

He graduated from Schnecksville Elementary School in 1945 and from Whitehall High School in the fantastic class of 1949.

He also attended Eastman Kodak School of Photography in Rochester, N.Y.

A lifelong photographer, he began by taking black and white photographs of his family and pets.

In 1946, Marjorie Lazarus asked him to take photos for the Whitehall High School yearbook.

In 1952, he was asked to take all the photographs for the Coplayite, the Coplay High School Yearbook.

His talents as a yearbook photographer advanced his work at Whitehall, William Allen and Louis E. Dieruff high schools.

In 1952, his first job was as a darkroom printer at Classic Photo Lab and, in 1952, he was hired as a darkroom technician for The Call-Chronicle newspapers, both in Allentown.

He rapidly advanced to a staff photographer, with his photo credit, “Photo by Ken Clauser” a daily occurrence in all three newspapers.

With his expertise in photography, he was asked to judge 35 mm slideshows and other photographic contests.

He won many prizes with his own photographs in The Associated Press, Keystone Press Awards, and was awarded first prize for outstanding photo news coverage in 1964 and four continuous years in The Call-Chronicle’s competition among staff photographers.

On Jan. 18, 1968, he, along with reporter Dick Cowen, were awarded Honorary PA State Future Homemakers for their coverage at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, Harrisburg, with both photographed wearing colorful aprons as a tribute to their honor.

A member of the South Whitehall Township 225th Anniversary Bicentennial Committee, he was also a charter member of the Marine Band of Allentown Youth Band Committee.

In 1979, he retired from The Call after 27 and a half years and was hired by Pennsylvania Power and Light Co. as its photographic supervisor, advancing to retire as senior audiovisual specialist on June 1, 1992.

Active with Boy Scout Pack and Troop 60, Orefield, serving in many capacities as Cub Master and Assistant Scoutmaster, in 1975, he became an advisor and formed Explorer Post 35, with which he served 25 years.

He was awarded the Owl Award, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, and was a James E. West Fellow.

He was a charter member of the Minsi Trails Council Boy Scouts of America Heritage Committee.

He is listed in Who’s Who in America among executives and professionals.

He enjoyed scuba diving, stamp collecting, O-gauge model trains, and playing his Plectrum Banjo in The Morning Call Band, The Perseverance Dixieland Band, The Keystone String Band, The Good Times Guys of Cape Cod, The Lehigh Valley Variety Band, Country Gentleman, The Three & One Band, The Northeast Variety Band and The Dixieland Five.

A member of the Musicians Union Local 45 for 38 years, he was the treasurer of Local 49, Lehigh Valley Newspaper Guild AFL-CIO for 25 years.

He was also a member of the board of directors of the WK&S Railroad, Kempton, and The Four Leaf Clover Club of the Good Shepherd Home.

A member of the Pennsylvania and National Press Photographers Association and the Professional Photographers of America, he was a member of Club 30 Morning Call Retirees and Le-Gen, PP&L’s retirees club.

He was a member of Union United Church of Christ, Neffs.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by sons, Mark W. and John T., both of Allentown; sister-in-law Mary Kroninger of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; step-brother-in-law Frederick P. Kunkel of Allentown; granddaughter Rachel Ann Clauser of Bethlehem; brothers Dale Clauser of Allentown and Ron Bolza of Slatington; and many nieces and nephews.

His memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in Heintzelman Funeral Home, 4906 Route 309, Schnecksville with the Rev. Kayli L. Freeman officiating.

Family and friends may pay their respects 1:30-3:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Private interment at New Bethel Union Cemetery, Kempton.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at heintzelmancares.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to the New Bethel Union Cemetery, 135 New Bethel Church Road, Kempton, PA 19529.