Time period/Baraboo: 1940s – 1970’s

Submitted by: His daughters – Pat Deubig, Pam Hawkins, Diana Hausley, Claudia Schulte

Claude Deubig, known to many as “Poor Old Uncle Claude”, was Baraboo’s leading decorator throughout the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. He built his business on the pillars of quality, workmanship and service. Claude was proud of his self-taught trade and reveled in happy customers. Specializing in color harmonizing, he helped bring warmth to hundreds of residents’ homes as well as various industrial and commercial sites. In fact, Claude had a hand in decorating some of Baraboo’s most well known architecture – the Al. Ringling home, St. Mary’s Ringling Manor, the Courthouse (after a fire), and event the fine details of the most detailed painted circus wagons.

With a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face Claude was a true charmer. As he worked he could always be heard singing a religious song or using his mouth as a personal trumpet! He was a jokester and loved to make people laugh. Everyone who knew him lived him, including his wife Elaine and their four daughters – Claudia, Diane, Pamela and Patricia. His motto was “There is no substitute for quality.” This rang true not only for his professional career but also his personal life, as quality time with his family was cherished.

Claude retired from decorating in 1975 due to Parkinson’s disease but never lost his love of making people happy. Want to know if Claude touched your home? Peel back a bit of wall paper and take a peek.You might just catch a glimpse of Claude’s legacy – his name and date under his work of art.