Clifford Henry Block

Clifford H. Block, age 76 of Little Rock, Iowa died Friday, September 29th, at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Luverne, MN. Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M., Monday, October 2, 2006 at the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, Iowa, with Pastor Brian Hellenga officiating. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery with military honors by the Buss-Johnson American Legion Post #316. Visitation will be held from 2:00 " 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 5:00 " 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 1st, at the Walton-Roste Funeral Home of Sibley, Iowa. Clifford Henry Block was born on February 20, 1930, the son of Henry and Margaret (Klaassen) Block. He attended Little Rock Country School and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. On December 17, 1952, he was united in marriage to JoAnn Venenga. The couple lived in Texas for one year while he was in the service and then moved to the Little Rock area. They have lived at the present farm for the past forty-seven years. Clifford farmed and raised livestock. For years he operated the Little Rock Soft Water Service. He was a member of the Salem Reformed Church where he served as a Deacon and Elder. He served on the Lyon County Fair Board, Little Rock School Board, Elgin Township Trustees, and was a member of the Little Rock Town & Country Club for many years. Clifford loved sports and attended many of his childrens and grandchildrens games. He was a big fan of the Minnesota Twins. Clifford enjoyed visiting with anybody he met no matter if he knew them or met them for the first time. On June 9, 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer. Clifford passed away on Friday, September 29 at the Luverne Community Hospital. His courage and will to live was an inspiration to many. Clifford is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, JoAnn Block of Little Rock; five children, Craig (wife Lois) Block of Little Rock, Cheri (husband Jeff) Meyn of Boyden, Crystal (husband Steve) Olson of Little Rock, Corinne (husband Tom) Lonneman of Adrian, MN and Carla (husband Clayton) Schilling of Ellsworth, MN; fifteen grandchildren, Brenna (husband Chad) Koedam, Brian (wife Tammi) Block, Heather Block, Carissa, Dusty, and Maria Meyn, Shaun (wife Kristin) Olson, Eric (wife Britney) Olson, Nicole Olson, Brad, Kristi, and Ryan Lonneman, Curt, Cody, and Casey Schilling; four great-grandchildren and three step"great grandchildren; one sister, Darlene Heidebrink of Ellsworth, MN; two brothers, Clarence (wife Eileen) Block of Little Rock and Virgil (wife Betty) Block of Adrian, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Arthur Heidebrink. His family will cherish his memory forever in their hearts.