Clifford C. Oden 1909-2003

HALVORSEN, ODEN, SHUCK

Posted By: Lori Clark
Date: 7/31/2003 at 07:54:15

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service
2720 Muscatine Avenue
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 – 319-338-1132

Iowa City Press Citizen – Paid & Picture
The Gazette – Paid & picture
Sioux City Journal-Paid & picture

Iowa City Dateline:

Clifford C. Oden, 93, of 3500 Lower West Branch Road, Iowa City, died July 29, 2003, At Bickford Cottage in Iowa City of complications of a stroke suffered last March.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, August 3, 2003, at the Nathanael Lutheran Church in Alcester, South Dakota. Burial will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Alcester. Online Condolences may be sent for Clifford’s family through the website of the funeral home @www.gayandciha.com.

Clifford was born in Akron, Iowa on August 1, 1909, to Carl and Helma (Halvorson) Oden of Nora, South Dakota. He graduated from Elk Point High School in 1927 and received the LLB degree from the University of South Dakota in 1932. He married Mildred Shuck on June 17, 1939. They lived in Elk Point, South Dakota where Clifford practiced law and won election to several terms each as States Attorney and as Country Judge until his retirement in 1974. Shortly thereafter, they moved to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas where they resided in the towns of Mission and McAllen until coming to Iowa City in 1998.

During World War II, Clifford served as an officer in the US Navy providing air communications support for amphibious forces with the Pacific Fleet including at Subic Bay, Luzon in the Phillipines and on Morotai Island off the coast of New Guinea. Among the awards he received in recognition of his service were the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Phillipine Liberation Ribbon with one star.

Clifford was an avid bridge player and enjoyed the daily crossword puzzle, which he usually did in ink. He was also a serious amateur carpenter with a well-equipped workshop. In the 1950's, he and Mildred built their own house doing most of the work themselves.

Clifford’s family includes his wife, Mildred and son Gregg and his wife Lola Lopes, all of Iowa City, sisters Ruby Troskey of Great Falls, Montana, JaNice Hansen and her husband Clarence of Elk Point, South Dakota, and Lovina Borghorst of Deland, Florida and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Alvesta and Frances.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Clifford’s family and arrangements.