Clifford A. Carolan

Monday, March 6, 2017 6:38 pm

Clifford A. Carolan, 63, of Cresco, passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Hawkeye Care Center in Cresco. Memorial services are at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, at First Lutheran Church in Cresco. Friends may call at the church Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Friday for an hour prior to services.

Cliff was born in Decorah Oct. 9, 1953, to Fred and Helen (Soukup) Carolan. He grew up in Ridgeway, 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; together they had two sons. They were later divorced. In 2011, Cliff married Judy Blaser Ryan. Cliff was a volunteer fireman for 19 years – the first two years with the Ridgeway Fire Dept. and then for 17 years on the Cresco Fire Dept., where he also served as an officer. Cliff also volunteered with the First Responders in Cresco. Cliff 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. Cliff loved racing, camping and his grandkids.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Judy Carolan, of Cresco; two sons, Nathan (Bridget) Carolan, Rochester, Minn. and Jason (Sherri) Carolan, Decorah; three stepchildren: Elizabeth (David) Thomsen, Delhi; Curtis Ryan, Dubuque and Laura (Jeremy) Hill, Isanti, Minn.; three brothers: Kenny (Norma) Carolan, Ridgeway, Randy (Ellen) Carolan, Tucson, Ariz. and Mark (Ruth) Carolan Ridgeway; two sisters-in-law, Vallori Carolan, Council Bluffs and Linda Carolan, Albany, Wis.; six grandchildren: Eliana and Mia Carolan, Rochester, Minn., Cassidy, Emily, Cody and Andrew Decorah; two step-grandsons, Trevor and Levi Hill, Isanti, Minn.; 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 sister-in-law, Joleen Carolan.