CLIFTON B. REDMAN

REDMAN

Posted By: Nancy Hill (email)
Date: 1/19/2002 at 13:44:21

From the Leon Journal Reporter
January 9, 2002

Clifton Benjamin Redman, 94, of Leon, IA, the son of Benjamin Franklin and Sarah Jessie (Wilson) Redman, was born January 21, 1907, at the family homestead in Van Wert, IA. He left this earth on January 2, 2002, at Westview Acres Care Center in Leon. He was just days short of his 95th birthday. Cliff grew up near Van Wert on his parents' farm and attended Stone and Good Hope rural schools. He also attended Van Wert High School. Cliff was very proud of his spelling and mathematical skills and often challenged his children to defeat him in these subjects. He was a member of the Van Wert United Methodist Church for all his life. As a young man he worked with his father and also worked on the Binning Ranch in Pinedale, WY. These were among his favorite memories and he often spoke fondly of those times. He married Louise Flora Smith in June of 1934 and they began married life on the farm Cliff and his father built south of Van Wert. The couple's four children and their families, Phyllis Bierbaum and husband Don, Jane Ackerman and husband Bob, Darrell Redman, and Nancy Hill and husband Gary were very important to them. He was a devoted father and always encouraged his children in their activities. Cliff loved horses and always had many on his farms for all his life. He raised registered Hereford cattle for many years and loved the life of a farmer. He was a good neighbor and friend and was always available to help out. He served on rural school boards and later was elected President of the Leon School District. He later served on the Tax Assessors' Committee for several years. Cliff's word was his bond and his integrity was questioned by no one who knew him. He was a great sports fan, favoring baseball, particularly Pete Rose and Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds. Cliff leaves to mourn his passing, his children, seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and daughter-in-law Sharon Long and husband Larry; he is also survived by brother Horace Redman and wife Wanda, sister Marie Baker, and sisters-in-law Nadene Redman and Ruth Mendenhall. He also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.