Cleon Dale Sires 1924 - 2001

SIRES, HAHN, MIDDENDORF, CROWLEY, GRAHLMAN

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 2/4/2007 at 18:39:16

Cleon D. Sires, 76, died Monday, Aug. 6, 2001, in Thornton Manor Care Center, Lansing, following a lengthy illness.

He was born Nov. 6, 1924 in New Albin to James and Sarah (Hahn) Sires. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Methodist Church and graduated from New Albin High School in 1942.

From August 19, 1943 until November 16, 1945 he was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corps serving as a bomb gunner, seeing duty in the Rhineland and Central European Theatres.

On April 13, 1946 he married Iris Middendorf in Cedar rapids, Iowa. Cleon moved back to New Albin where he worked first as a clerk and later as Postmaster for over 30 years. He also worked at Trane Company in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin and at Sires Food Market in New Albin.

He was a member of the New Albin Fire Department, VFW Post 5603, past secretary and board member for the New Albin School District, scoutmaster for the New Albin Boy Scout Troop, Masonic Lodge, and helped to coordinate local first aid trainings for the Red Cross. Cleon loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He had a good sense of humor and outgoing personality and enjoyed visiting with his friends and meeting new people.

He is preceded by his parents; 2 brothers, Donald and Alvin; 3 sisters, Ruby Middendorf, Mae Crowley, and Genevieve Grahlman.

Survivors include his wife Iris of New Albin; 2 sons, Douglas of Houston, Minnesota and Lance (Fran) of Marseilles, IL; 5 grandchildren, Andrew, Chad, Sarah, Samantha, and Jason; 3 great-grandchildren, Paul, Emma, and Cole; 2 brothers, Raymond "Tat" and Forrest "Frosty", both of New Albin; a sister-in-law, Lillian Sires of New Albin; and a brother-in-law, Claude Grahlman of Waukon.

Honorary Casket bearers were Bob Bulman, Ray Wahlen, Ronny Weymiller, Loren Bulman, Bernard Dougherty, Todd Weymiller, Jim Johnston and Robert Kester.

Casket bearers were Lynn Sires, Joel Sires, Jim "Gus" Sires, Tom Richards, Dave Richards, Brain Middendorf, Jeff Middendorf, Greg Middendorf and Bob Grahlman.

Source: Newspaper Clipping