Clifford Fries

Clifford Leroy Fries, 88, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa.

He was born at his home on December 18, 1929, the oldest son of Elmer and Kristine (Nielsen) Fries in Wiota, Iowa. He attended school in Wiota and Anita, graduating from Anita High School with the class of 1948. After graduation, Cliff worked for the West Iowa telephone Company. In 1951, Cliff joined the United States Air Force and served four years.

Cliff was united in marriage to Barbara Pearson on July 26, 1953, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita. He was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, when he got a ten day pass to go home to Anita to get married. He hitchhiked home, got married, and then both he and Barb drove back to Mississippi. They lived in Mississippi for one month before Cliff was transferred to Boron, California, in the fall of 1953. They spent about a year and a half in Southgate, California, where Cliff would spend three weeks out on an island and one week at home each month. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1955.

They returned to Anita and Cliff worked for a couple years for Jake Lindblom repairing TVs and appliances while Barbara taught kindergarten. They bought a small house on West Main Street in Anita. They had their baby girl, Kristen Elizabeth, on March 14, 1961. About 1963, they moved to Avoca, Iowa, where Cliff worked for Max Metz, the International Harvester dealer, while Barb taught half day kindergarten in Hancock, Iowa.

In the spring of 1967, they moved back to Anita and Cliff worked for Jack Long selling and servicing appliances and laying floor coverings for Long’s Home Furnishings. Jack also owned and operated Long’s Funeral Home in Anita so Cliff and the family moved into the apartment upstairs at the funeral home. In 1968, they went into partnership with the furniture side of Long’s business. In 1972, they became sole owners of Long’s Home Furnishings and moved into the house across the street from the funeral home. Cliff and Barb worked in the store until it closed in 1986. After that, Barb had a home day care and Cliff worked as a custodian at the Cass County Courthouse until his retirement.

Cliff was always doing something. He was a talented artist, woodworker and woodcarver. He enjoyed working on cars and listening to music, especially at the Oak Tree Opry in Anita. Cliff was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, the American Legion in Anita, a past member of the Chamber of Commerce in Anita, and member of the Anita Volunteer Fire Department Old-timers.

Cliff is survived by his daughter, Kristen Fries-Sample of Anita, IA; his grandchildren, Andrew (Becky) McNeer of Scandinavia, WI, and Jennifer (Brian) McKenzie of Bondurant, IA; three great-grandchildren; sister, Opal (Charles) Pratt-Warton of Aurelia, IA; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Davidson of Atlantic, IA and Mary Ellen (Norman) Wright of Marion, IA; nieces and nephews, Kim (Don) Douthit of Red oak, IA, Kelly Fries of Nebraska, Janet (Pat) Eisenmenger of Hendersonville, TN, Tom (Laura) Pratt of Sioux City, IA, Ken (Alice) Davidson of Atlantic, IA, Roger (Phoung) Davidson of New Albany, OH, Catherine (Mike) Hutt of Austin, TX, Caren (Lynn) Miller of Warrensburg, MO, Carla (Woods) Prael of Warrensburg, MO; other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Kristine Fries; his wife, Barbara Fries; his grandson, Michael Sample; his parents-in-law, Weimer and Catherine Pearson; brother, Ronald (Marlene) Fries; and brothers-in-law, Bob Pratt and John Pearson.

Visitation with family will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a memorial service starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita, Iowa.

A committal service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita with a lunch following at the Anita American Legion Hall.

The family strongly requests and prefers memorials in lieu of flowers.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.