Clifford R. Trumpold, 23 Sept. 1925 - 23 June 2006

TRUMPOLD, BUERKIN, HAHN, NICKEL, KINZENBAW, GRAESSER

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 10:28:45

Clifford R. Trumpold, age 80, died Friday, June 23, 2006 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, following a brief illness. Funeral Services: 10:00 A.M. Monday, June 26, 2006 at the Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana with Elder Peter Hoehnle officiating. Burial will be in the Middle Amana Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7 P.M. Sunday, June 25, 2006 at the Middle Amana Church. Memorials may be contributed to the Amana School and Community Library or the charity of the donor’s choice. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Caroline; his children, Carla and husband Lance Nickel of Chattanooga, TN, Cathy and husband Fritz Kinzenbaw of Ladora, and Sam and wife Beverly of Pocahontas; 3 grandchildren, William Joseph Nickel and wife Wendy; Mickey Kinzenbaw and wife Mandey, and Cari Kinzenbaw; 2 great-grandchildren Jacob and Bennett Nickel. Also surviving are two brothers, Henry and wife Janice of Marengo and Richard and wife Marilyn of Middle Amana.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John and a sister, Dorothy Graesser.

Clifford Ralph Trumpold was born September 23, 1925, in Middle Amana, the eldest son of Rudolph and Maria Buerkin Trumpold. Growing up in Middle Amana, Clifford was a graduate of Amana High School, earning his diploma in the Navy. He was a gunner’s mate from 1944 to 1946, serving in the South Pacific. Upon his discharge from the service, he briefly attended Stetson University in Jacksonville, FL on the GI Bill. The following year he was in Florida playing on a minor league baseball team in the NY Giants farm system. Upon returning home, Clifford married Caroline Hahn on August 5, 1951 in Middle Amana.

Cliff, as he was known to most, led an active life, working and donating time to many clubs and organizations. He spent 34 years as part of the Amana Refrigeration, his last 13 as a plastics engineer. He retired from the plant in August of 1988. In his spare time, while still working at the plant, Cliff played on, coached, and later managed the Amana baseball team in the Iowa Valley League, serving as a league commissioner for over 10 years. Through his life-long love of baseball he received a fifty-year award from the league. His love of the game of baseball however, stretched beyond the town team. He shared his enthusiasm for and knowledge of the game coaching pony league teams as well, and becoming an avid follower of not only the Amana High School program, but the local high school and college programs involving his grandchildren. In his last few years he became one of softball’s biggest fans following the career of his granddaughter.

A life-long member of the Amana Church, he served as a trustee for over ten years. He also served on the Amana Heritage Society Board for a number of years, earning him a service award. He earned service awards as well from the Boy Scouts of America, the Amana Community Chest and the Amana Arts Guild.

Cliff was also the author of two books; Now Pitching, Bill Zuber; and A Short History of the Amana Young Men’s Bureau. He was the originator of the Amana Golf League. He also volunteered to help build the church kitchen in Amana, among other church and community related projects. His many efforts of good will and hard work will not be easily replaced.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo