William Dennis Clifford
March 18, 1922 - July 26, 2001

William Dennis Clifford, 79, of 772 Lost Creek, Marquette, died Thursday morning, July 26, 2001 at Marquette General Hospital.

Mr. Clifford was born March 18, 1922 in Guckeen, Minnesota to the late John and Mary (Boisclaire) Clifford.

He attended school until the age of fourteen when he left to join the workforce and help his family. William worked for the CCC Camp from 1939-1940. In 1942 he joined the army and served in WWII in the American, European, African and Middle Eastern Theatres achieving the rank of tank commander and received the Purple Heart with two clusters.

On August 21, 1948 he married the former Martha I. Levi in Ohio and she survives him.

Mr. Clifford was employed as a tubing specialist for the Fauver Company before becoming self-employed in that field.

William loved playing poker in his spare time and was a loving husband and father.

Mr. Clifford is survived by his wife, Martha; daughters, Pamela Helvie of Waterford, MI, Deborah (Randall) Nance of Livonia and Brenda (Mark) Washnock of Marquette; sisters, Anna Deinhart of Guckeen, MN and Alice Hugener of Blue Earth, MN; and grandchildren, Matthew Helvie, Bradley and Brian Nance, Daniel and Amanda Washnock. His siblings, Bernard, Swede, Dewey Clifford and Rosemary Strauss; and a brother-in-law, Edwin Deinhart, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held on Saturday at the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Msgr. Jed Patrick officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at 1400 S. Carpenter, Iron Mountain, MI 49801.

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