Perry, Clifford Earl 1918-2008

PERRY, KILKER, OLESON

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2008 at 19:53:34

From: Carlsen Funeral Home Website, Aug. 7, 2008

Clifford E. Perry, 90, of Le Mars passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 10, 2008 at the Le Mars United Methodist Church in Le Mars with Reverend Jason Larson officiating. Interment with military honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 of Le Mars will be in the Memorial Cemetery. Visitations will be after 3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 2008 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the family present to greet friends after 4:00 p.m. followed by a 5:00 p.m. Prayer Service. Visitations will continue Sunday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church.

Pallbearers will be Joe Schroeder, Donald Fulton, Roland Detloff, Mike Detloff, Denny Lundgren, and Terry Roder.

Clifford Earl Perry was born June 21, 1918 on the family farm in Fredonia Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa to Frank and Clara (Kilker) Perry. Clifford attended country school at Fredonia #2 School and later graduated from Le Mars High School in 1936. Following high school, he attended Western Union College. Clifford served his country during World War II in the United States Army from March 23, 1942 until his honorable discharge on December 20, 1945. While in the Army, Clifford was stationed in Europe with a tank company. His tank company met Russian troupes at the Elbe River in Germany, one week before the before the War ended on May 8, 1945. Following his discharge from the service, Clifford returned to Iowa to continue farming on the family farm. Clifford was united in marriage to Irene Oleson on June 6, 1948 at the First United Methodist Church in Le Mars. Clifford and Irene farmed near Le Mars until 1980 when they retired and moved to Le Mars.

Clifford and Irene enjoyed spending the winters in Florida and Arizona for several years. Irene passed away on December 6, 2000 after 52 years of marriage. He was a longtime member of Le Mars United Methodist Church (First United Methodist) and men’s group, the Le Mars Kiwanis Club, and a lifetime member of the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 of Le Mars. Clifford also served as a Director of the Southern Sioux County Rural Water during the organization and construction from 1978 to 1981. He enjoyed antique cars and doing intarsia woodworking. He was very proud to say that he has traveled to all 50 states. He also enjoyed visiting with family and many friends. Cliff’s philosophy was simple, “live each day, forget your age”.

Survivors include a sister, Marjorie Perry of Le Mars; 5 nephews and a niece: William and Myra Henley of Kissimmee, Fl, Dennis and Dottie Oleson of Akron, Kenneth Oleson of Pierson, William Oleson of Sioux City, and Dorine and John Bredwick of Chetak, Wisconsin; a sister-in-law, Katherine Oleson of Le Mars; and a very special friend, Gladys Coffin of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Clara (Kilker) Perry; his wife, Irene on December 6, 2000; 2 brothers-in-law, Donald Oleson and Bert Henley and his wife Audrey.