Clifford S. Korsmo's Obituary
Clifford Maurice Korsmo, 87, died on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, in Olalla, WA. Clifford was born April 21, 1923 in Eden, SD. He grew up as the middle child of seven in the family of Anna Kluken and Carl Korsmo. Clifford graduated from Sissiton High School in 1942, and then volunteered for the Navy in WWII. He was at Whidbey Island Naval Base in 1944 prior to being sent to the Philippine Islands, where he served as Crew Chief on a PBY Catalina 'flying boat' in the VPB-71 'Black Cat' Squadron. Clifford married Marie Hornnes on August 4, 1944 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Parkland, WA. He returned to Parkland after the end of WWII, where he continued his education at Pacific Lutheran College, graduating in 1949. At PLC he also worked on campus and started his paint contracting business. From 1949 - 1954 he often worked with his four brothers in Korsmo Brothers Construction. From 1954 to 1960 he was a Lutheran Brotherhood agent. He then utilized his math and education degrees from PLC and began a third career teaching Jr. High Math in the Tacoma School District (1969-1981). Cliff and Marie both earned their M.Ed. degree in 1969. Cliff's family and friends will remember him as an honest, hard-working, faithful and caring man. He was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his children Karen Vigeland (George), Mark Korsmo( Janice), Wayne Korsmo (Chris), Dale Korsmo (Teri) and Elise Michaels (Rick), as well as seven grandchildren, Kurt, Krista and Leif Vigeland, Paul and David Michaels, Ana Korsmo and Kyler Korsmo. Clifford was preceded in death by his wife Marie as well as his siblings Gordon, John, Ethel Peterson, Martin, Ida Davis and Paul.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, December 26, 2010 at St Mark's Lutheran Church, 6730 N. 17th St., Tacoma, WA. Donations may be sent to UW Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC), Mailstop S116-6E, 1660 Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108; or to St Mark's Lutheran Church, Tacoma, WA.
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