Submitted by: Dan Rich

Clifford Leroy Searfoss

Aug. 16, 1924 - Oct. 28, 2005

South Bend Tribune 10/30/2005

Clifford Leroy Searfoss, 81, passed away on the morning of Friday, October 28, 2005, at Hospice House, Roseland, surrounded by his family. The son of E. Herman and Ina Marie (Sheneman) Searfoss, Cliff was born August 16, 1924, in LaPaz, Indiana.

On October 7, 1950, he married Juanita M. Sharp, who survives. Cliff is also survived by his children, Karen (Jack) Blue, Westlake, Ohio, Jodi (James) Kalka, Barbara (Paul) Wills, Diana Bellinger, Steven (Cyndy) and Scott (Deenee) Searfoss, all of South Bend; his grandchildren, Kyle and Amanda Blue, James, Jason, Joel, Andrew and Amy Kalka, Jessica Wills, Rachel and Eric Bellinger (and their father Greg), Alexander and Zachary Searfoss, Holly and Nick Searfoss (and their mother Joan); his step-grandson, Blake Palicki; and his great-grandchildren, Justyn Kalka, Alexis Kalka and Nolan Kalka. Other survivors include his sister, Alice (Dr. Roy) Burlington, Mount Pleasant, Michigan; half sisters, Fern Heilman and Irene Jones; brothers-in-law, Jerry Sharp and Ron (Mary Lou) Sharp; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Cliff was preceded in death by sisters, Marjory Streich, Grace Sharp and Doris Goon; brothers, Robert and Eugene Searfoss; half sister, Dollie Mae Pozanski; half brothers, Harold and Gerald Searfoss; nephew, Mick Searfoss; and niece, Debbie (Goon) Rice.

A World War II veteran, Cliff served in the 106th Infantry and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. He was captured by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge and was a POW until April 1945. He was a member of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Cliff retired from Bendix in 1983 after 36 years as an assembler. He was a member of American Legion Post 357 and attended Sonlight Fellowship Church, South Bend. A lifelong baseball fan, Cliff was one of the founders of Matthys Little League and coached teams in the league for many years. He was also a member of the Die-Hard Cubs Fan Club.

The family would like to thank South Bend Fire Station 10, niece, Cindy Streich, Dr. Mark Sandock, Dr. Steven Gable, Phil, Jackie, Lois, Mary, and the caring staffs at Memorial Hospital and Hospice.

Visitation will be Monday, October 31, at Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, from 2 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 1, at Sonlight Fellowship Church, 3702 South Michigan Street, South Bend, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Donations may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; to Sonlight Fellowship Church, 3702 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46614; or to the National Parkinson's Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33136.