Clerff, Phillip Nicholas (1862-1944)

CLERFF, FOSTER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/18/2016 at 07:05:23

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Tuesday, September 12, 1944

PHIL CLERFF, AGE 81, DIES

Services to Be Held Thursday for Long Time Resident Here.

Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 9:30 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church here for Phil Clerff, Sr, 81, who died Tuesday morning at the hospital. Mr. Clerff's death came unexpectedly as he had been in his usual health until Monday evening when he suffered a stroke, and was taken to the hospital.

The Rev. Father David Gorman and the Rev. Father Edward Hayes of Duncombe will be in charge of the services, burial in the Catholic cemetery. Fosters in charge. Rosary will be said Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock at the Foster funeral home.

Phillip Nicholas Clerff, son of Nicholas and Mary Clerff, was born Dec. 6, 1862, in Luxembourg, Germany. He was educated in that country and grew to young manhood there, coming to the United States at the age of 24.

He first located in this country in Wisconsin where he lived only a few months, going on to Aurora, Ill., where he made his home for more than a year. After coming to Iowa he was engaged in farm work, and on Aug. 9, 1892, was married to Barbara Foster at Webster City, by the Rev. Father Brennan.

They went to live on the Foster farm, two miles north of Webster City, where Mrs. Clerff had been born and reared, and made their home on that place until four years ago when they sold the farm and moved into Webster City to live with their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clerff.

Six months ago they went to Duncombe where they had been living with Mr. and Mrs. William Broe.

Besides his parents, Mr. Clerff was preceded in death by one son and one daughter, who died in infancy. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Frank of this city and Phil, Jr., of Duncombe; three granddaughters, Barbara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clerff, Kathleen and Elaine, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Clerff. There are also two nephews.

Mr. Clerff was a member of the Catholic church. A man of sterling character, he was known and loved throughout a full and rich lifetime by a host of friends. He will be greatly missed by these many friends as well as by his family to whom he had always devoted his main interests and energies.