Clifford C. Caley

Clifford C. Caley, age 75, of Platteville, died on  Sunday, June 29, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family after a long battle with lung cancer. He was born on October 27, 1932, in Waterloo Township, the son of Ora and Nellie (Allbee) Caley. Clifford attended  Elmdale School in  Burton. On  July 16, 1953, he married Mary Lu Blackbourn at Lancaster Congregational Church. After their marriage, the couple resided in Beetown. Clifford was employed at John Deere Dubuque Works from December of 1965 until his retirement in April of 1989, when he moved to Arthur. He was a member of the Arthur  United Methodist Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, cars, auctions, gardening and old tractors.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lu, Platteville; six children: Allan (Christine) Caley, Potosi; Brian (Rose) Caley, Platteville; Nancy (Nick) Timmerman, Platteville; Susan (Stephen) Opsal, LaSalle, IL; Craig (NancyLee) Caley, Brodhead; Betsy (Robert) Huehne, Livingston; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers: Donald Caley, Lancaster; Alfred Caley, Bloomington; LaVern Caley, Lancaster; seven sisters-in-law: Rose Caley, Bloomington; Viola Caley, Bloomington; Eula Mae Caley, Beetown; Maude Dailey, Bloomington; Ruth Palmer, Livingston; Winifred Christiansen, Oregon; Ellen (Richard) Krohn, Beetown; one brother-in-law, Claire Blackbourn, Lancaster; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to his parents, Clifford was preceded in death by three brothers: Melvin, Lawrence, and Glen Caley; a sister, Helen Ackerman; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Caley and Betty Blackbourn; five brothers-in-law, Leonard Ackerman, Earl Dailey, Jim Palmer, Neal Christiansen and Russell Blackbourn.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 3, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster with Reverend John Oliver officiating. Burial was in Dodge  Cemetery, Beetown Township. Friends called on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. until time of services on Thursday.  

A special thank you to Southwest Hospice, especially Teri, and the doctors and nurses who took such great care of Clifford and his family.