Clifton Larson

1925 - 2009

Clifton E. Larson, 84, formerly a longtime resident of Oelwein, died on Tuesday evening, Oct. 6, 2009 at Hawthorn Manor of Peoria at Peoria, Ill.
Clifton Edward Larson was born on March 31, 1925 at Volga, the son of Leonard Charles and Lulu Louise (Starr) Larson.
Clifton was united in marriage to Arlene Lois Hillman on Aug. 1, 1943 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. He was a machinist apprentice for four years and then was a machinist for several years. Clifton went on to be a foreman and later a master mechanic for the Chicago Great Western Railroad until 1968. He then became the division general foreman in the mechanical division for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad from 1970 to 1977. Clifton was then the superintendent of the municipal light plant at Waverly. He then was a master mechanic for the Crandic Railway from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City from 1978 to 1982.
Clifton was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the education committee for six years and was the former financial secretary. He was also a member of NARVRE Unit #106.
Clifton is survived by his three daughters; Susan Larson of Villa Park, Ill., Noreen (Edward) Schaub of Brimfield, Ill. and Hazel (Richard) Kennicott of Glenwood; one son, Charles (Theresa) Larson of Groveland, Calif.; eight grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Arlene, on July 29, 2002; sister Hazel; three brothers, Harold, William, and Robert and a great–grandson Nicholas Ragone.
Funeral Services were at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein, with Rev. Leo Combs-Lay officiating. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the church with interment at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in rural Oelwein. Memorials may be given in his name to Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein.