Clifford A. Karrels, age 94, of Oshkosh, died Friday morning, October 28, 2016, at Oakwood Manor in Oshkosh. He was born in Port Washington, Wisconsin, on May 24, 1922, the son of Michael and Eleanor Karrels. He grew up in Little Chute, Wisconsin, where he graduated from St. John High School in 1940. After graduation Clifford worked for Kimberly Clark until joining the United States Army Air Corp, enlisting in 1942. During World War II, he flew the Thunderbolt Fighter Bomber with the 456th Bomb Group from bases in Italy and the island of Corsica. Clifford took part in the air cover of the invasion of southern France in August of 1944. On his 42nd mission, he took off from Pisa to dive bomb the railroad marshalling yard in Verona, Italy. His P47 plane was hit in the oil line and forced his bailing out behind the German lines. While hiding out in Italy, he worked with the Italian Partisans for six months. Clifford retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Lt. Colonel.
A graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, in 1950, with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Clifford held a management position at Shook & Midwest Lumber Company in Oshkosh from 1950 to 1960 and a sales position with Sentry Insurance from 1960 to May of 1982.
On May 30, 1952, Clifford was united in marriage to Joan Stannard in Oshkosh and she preceded him in death on January 17, 1977. On September 15, 1979, Clifford married Geraldine Loos and she preceded him in death on May 13, 2006.
During his life in Oshkosh, Clifford was active in aviation and served as an officer in the following social clubs: Winnebago Land Pilots Club, Friday Noon Club, Optimist Club, and Wisconsin Retail Lumberman's Association. He also pinch hit as a charter pilot for Basler Flight Service.
Survivors include six children, Dr. Mark (Linda) Karrels of Janesville, Susan (Devon) Jones of Oshkosh, Thomas (Teri) Karrels of Oshkosh, Lynn Parker of Oshkosh, Cathy Loos of Milwaukee and Carol Bell of LaCrosse; 12 grandchildren, Luke (Julie) Karrels, Tyler Karrels, Chelsea Karrels, Joan (Justin) Jungwirth-Hajny, James Jungwirth, Andrew (Amy) Jones, Katie (Matthew) Armatoski, Michael Karrels, Michael Parker, Samantha Parker, Kristine (Ben) Wilson, and Matthew Bell; nine great-grandchildren, Marni, Wyatt, Madelyn, Daniel, Collin, Vero, Efrance, Porter, and David. Preceding Clifford in death are his two wives and a sister, Mary Catherine Brock.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 4, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in Seefeld Funeral Chapels, 1025 Oregon Street. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery with full Military Honors. A time of visiting and sharing of memories will be held on Friday from 12 Noon until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Clifford's family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Oakwood Manor and Heartland Hospice for the loving care given to Clifford during his stay there. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.seefeldfuneral.com. Memorials in Clifford's name may be directed to Oshkosh Humane Society.
God saw he was getting tired, and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around him and whispered "come with Me." With tearful eyes we watched him suffer, and saw him fade away, and though we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands to rest; God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best