Clifford Hrdlicka

Rock Rapids, IA        Clifford "Buddy" Hrdlicka Jr, age 71 of Rock Rapids, IA, formerly of Armour, SD, passed away Sunday, February 7th at his home with family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer.        Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 12, 2016 at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Mark Hansen officiating. Burial will be 3:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in rural Delmont, SD.        Visitation will be Thursday, February 11th from 4:00 to 8:00 with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.        Clifford “Buddy” Edward Hrdlicka Jr. was born March 5, 1944 in Wagner, South Dakota, the son of Clifford Edward Sr. and Gladys (Branaugh) Hrdlicka. He was raised on a farm near Armour, SD and attended Armour Community Schools. After high school he studied mechanics for a year in Omaha, NE. He entered the U.S. Army in June of 1965, serving in Germany. He received his honorable discharge in June of 1967. He lived and worked a short while in West Bend, WI, before he returned to Armour. He was confirmed into the Missouri Synod Lutheran faith in 1970.        On July 25, 1970 Cliff was united in marriage to Deanna Peters at Zion Lutheran Church in Delmont, SD. They lived in the Delmont, Irene, Armour and Wagner areas from 1970 to 1976, before moving to White Lake, SD. They moved to Laurel, NE in 1980 and Parker, SD in 1983. In 1985 they moved to an acreage north of Rock Rapids, IA and moved into Rock Rapids in 2001.        Cliff worked as a farm hand for many years and also managed hog confinement units.   His family recalls his dedication during sixteen years of calving seasons when they lived north of Rock Rapids. He enjoyed his last eight years of employment as a swine herdsman for Mogler Farms, where he developed a special relationship with the Mogler family.        He was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, and the Van Anne-Fields Post No. 6960, VFW of Rock Rapids. He enjoyed collecting John Deere memorabilia and attending rodeos and car shows. He especially enjoyed attending Professional Bull Riding (PBR) events with his wife Deanna. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.        He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Deanna, of Rock Rapids, IA; son, Jeff (wife, Danielle) Hrdlicka of Rock Rapids, IA; two daughters, Cindy (husband, Matt) Stevens of Sioux Falls, SD, and Christy DeBeer (special friend, Nate Van Schepen) of Meservey, IA; ten grandchildren: Kylie Hrdlicka (fiancé, Zach Morris), Sawyer Hrdlicka, Jaylen Stevens, Brenna Stevens, Karsyn Stevens, Paige Stevens, Payton Stevens, Faith DeBeer, Toby DeBeer and Skyler Van Schepen; mother, Gladys Hrdlicka of Armour, SD; brother, Gary (wife, Phyllis) Hrdlicka of Armour, SD; sister, Donna Meiers of Huron, SD; mother-in-law, Mildred Peters of Sioux Falls, SD; three sisters-in-law, Nadine (husband, Dean) Bornitz of Sioux Falls, SD, Roslyn Peters of Sioux Falls, SD and Marcie (husband, Vincent) Kruse of Yankton, SD; two brothers-in-law, Darryl (wife, Candy) Peters of Brighton, CO and Myron (wife, Heather) Peters of Grand Forks, ND; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.        He was preceded in death by two infant sons, Timothy and Daniel Hrdlicka; father, Clifford Hrdlicka Sr.; father-in-law, Norbert Peters; and a brother-in-law, Leroy Meiers.