Clifford Carolan, 63
Fri, 03/03/2017 - 3:30pm
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Oct. 9, 1953 —
March 1, 2017
Cresco - Clifford A. Carolan, age 63, of Cresco, Iowa passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at Hawkeye Care Center in Cresco.
Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 10 at First Lutheran Church in Cresco. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. and on Friday for an hour prior to services.
On Oct. 9, 1953, Cliff was born in Decorah, Iowa to Fred and Helen (Soukup) Carolan. He grew up in Ridgeway, Iowa and graduated from Crestwood High School in 1971. He worked for Donaldson’s in Cresco, drove truck for Olson Explosives and worked for Featherlite, from which he retired in 2016.
Cliff married Debra Reicks in 1973 and together they had two sons. They were later divorced. In 2011, Cliff married Judy Blaser Ryan.
He was a volunteer fireman for 19 years, the first two years with Ridgeway Fire Dept. and then for 17 years with the Cresco Fire Dept., where he also served as an officer. In addition, Cliff volunteered with the First Responders in Cresco. He was a member of the Cresco Wildlife Club and the Driftrunners. He was one of the original persons involved with bringing the train to Beadle Park in Cresco. He was proud of that accomplishment and the many volunteer hours he contributed to the project. He loved racing, camping and his grandkids.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Judy Carolan of Cresco; sons Nathan (Bridget) Carolan of Rochester, Minn. and Jason (Sherri) Carolan of Decorah; three stepchildren, Elizabeth (David) Thomsen of Delhi, Iowa, Curtis Ryan of Dubuque, Iowa and Laura (Jeremy) Hill of Isanti, Minn.; three brothers, Kenny (Norma) Carolan of Ridgeway, Randy (Ellen) Carolan of Tucson, Ariz. and Mark (Ruth) Carolan of Ridgeway; two sisters-in-law, Vallori Carolan of Council Bluffs and Linda Carolan of Albany, Wis.; six grandchildren, Eliana and Mia Carolan of Rochester and Cassidy, Emily, Cody and Andrew of Decorah; two step grandsons, Trevor and Levi Hill of Isanti; and his mother-in-law, Perry Blaser.
Cliff was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Helen Carolan; three brothers, Stanley, Roger and Walter Carolan; and a sister-in-law, Joleen Carolan.
