Clifford D. Gillman

Clifford Doc Gillman was born November 6, 1921 to Doc and Grace (Cizkovsky) Gillman in Wayne County, Iowa. He passed away, Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at the Legacy Lodge Hospice located in Chariton, Iowa at the age of 96 years.

Clifford attended school through the Eighth grade in the Wayne County area. After graduating the Eighth grade, he chose to stay home to work on the farm with his Dad. Cliff was a helpful hand with the farming chores on his family’s farm. He was hard worker as he was quick to take on extra odd jobs on top of helping his parents. A memory that always stood out for Clifford was when he was twenty-one years of age and he left for an adventure to Alaska with his cousin, Max Cooper. They started their trip on a train bound for Seattle. The night was a black-out due to the war. They left Seattle on a confiscated WWI German ship. While on the ship, he cooked for the crew. Cliff’s stay was six months long and he had saved every dollar he had made to take back home with him.

Clifford was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Rouse on September 16, 1950. To this union seven children were raised, Jeff, Michile, Sandy, Bob, Jerri, George, and John. The couple settled down in the Lucas County area where Clifford farmed and later worked for sixteen years for the Hy-Vee Wholesale truck shop . He had worked hard his whole life, but in his spare time he enjoyed taking his wife, Barbara square dancing. After the death of his wife, he delighted in attending music jams with his special friend, Opal Medearis as they loved music.

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, Doc and Grace Gillman; his loving wife Barbara (Rouse) Gillman; his brothers, Wilbur, Russell, Gene Gillman and Bill Ellis; his granddaughter, Danielle Maria Goben; and his brother-in-law, Melvin Grismore, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mike and Charlotte Rouse, and sister-in-law, Beth Rouse; and his special friend, Opal Medearis.

He is survived by his children, Jeff Chang of California, Michile (Mike) Goben of Chariton, Iowa, Sandy (Terry) Lane of Bondurant, Iowa, Bob (Jackie) Gillman of Friendswood, Texas, Jerri Holmes of Lucas, Iowa. George Gillman of Glenn Allen, Alaska, and John (Patti) Gillman of Avin, Texas; his sister, Betty Grismore of Chariton, Iowa; and 19 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild; plus, many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

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