Claude John Lieber, November 2, 1941 – January 2, 2022

Claude John Lieber of Colorado Springs died in the early morning of January 2, 2022 at the ripe age of 80 from Alzheimer’s Disease at Pikes Peak Center. Not wanting to spoil a holiday and being a good financial planner, he waited until after the New Year celebrations ended and the new quarter for payments began before taking his final breath.

Born November 2, 1941, he was known for his determination, love, and wonderful sense of humor. He loved his family and people, with the ability to sell nearly anything. While he never successfully sold the Brooklyn Bridge, he did tell people it was for sale and was very proud and successful in selling life insurance, women’s shoes, and furniture. Much earlier in his life, he was a stadium vendor, selling various items during Cubs games at Wrigley Field. He was always ready with a joke or pun, often even carrying printed jokes in his wallet.

Claude was born in Toulouse, France during World War II as Jean Claude Meyer. As Jews escaping the Nazis in occupied France, he grew up under an alias for many years. At one point, he and his brother lived in an orphanage, largely isolated from the other boys, where their mother would secretly visit with them on occasional Sundays.

Once the family was sponsored to come to the USA, he traveled through the Port of New York and eventually met up in Chicago with his maternal grandparents who escaped Germany through Shanghai. Claude was a confused 8 year old boy living in Chicago where he spoke French, his family spoke German, and community spoke mostly English. His nickname of “Cloudy” came from his grandmother who couldn’t pronounce his name correctly. He picked up English along with a few fights on the way from boys who picked on him for being different. At Lane Tech College Prep High School, he learned his academic subjects and loved horseback riding, which he remembered doing with his own father.

Claude was dedicated to the USA and joined the Illinois National Guard. He served as a sergeant during the 1968 riots, recalling how he was not able to issue ammunition to his troops despite being targeted by protestors at the Democratic National Convention. He was a proud veteran, and always remembered the compassionate support of the Salvation Army to him during those turbulent times.

Claude loved family. He married his first wife Diana in 1964 and they raised two boys, Brian and Daniel. Claude was so proud of his sons as they grew up, becoming loving, dedicated fathers themselves. He especially loved his grandchildren. Later in life, he fell deeply in love with Nancy, with whom he proudly married for the last 25 years. Learning that Nancy and his stepson Tom loved Colorado Springs, he happily made the move and brought his own mother, Thea, to live with them where they could admire the view of Pikes Peak from their home.

Claude was predeceased by his mother, Thea Lieber, and father, Helmut Meyer. His is survived by his wife Nancy Lieber-Lazzaro, brother Roland (Susan), sons Brian Lieber (Chrissy), Daniel Lieber (Caroline), and Tom Lazzaro (Duchele), grandchildren Justin, Jessica, Jamie, Shiri, and Rosalie, nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Claude’s body has been donated to The Anatomical Board of the State of Colorado where it will be used and appreciated for medical education. The family will hold online Shiva services and a memorial service in the future. In lieu of flowers, please hug your loved ones when you see them, and make a donation to a cause you care deeply about in Claude’s memory. Claude loved watching Westerns on TV; he can now be the cowboy hero riding out of view into the sunset.