Clifford Leroy Krutsinger

Clifford LeRoy Krutsinger, 95, of Clarence, passed away peacefully with family by his side on May 19, 2024 at the Clarence Nursing Home in Clarence, Iowa.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home in Tipton, Iowa.  A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 11:00 am at Fry Funeral Home. Following the funeral, friends and family are warmly invited to attend a luncheon at Tipton’s VFW in honor of Cliff.  Cremation will follow and burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.

Cliff was born September 30, 1928 in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Jesse and Emma (Eastman) Krutsinger.  He attended school in Waterloo and Davenport, Iowa.  On June 5, 1948, Cliff and Vera Maxine Fecht were married in Waterloo. Beginning November 28, 1951, Clifford proudly served his country in the Korean War, until honorably discharged November 17, 1953. The couple moved to Tipton in 1954 upon Cliff accepting a position as a route salesman for Old Mill Ice Cream. Together, they raised three children, Lorretta, Lynette (Lyn) and Clifford Paul.  Vera passed away November 24, 1994.  In total, Cliff called Tipton his home for 47 years. Cliff then moved to Clarence, Iowa in 2001 and lived there until his passing.

Cliff was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, the American Legion #123, and the Tipton VFW.  Over the years, he was a bus driver for the Tipton Community School District, delivered LP for Homegas and Empire Gas, worked at Jamesons Corp., and Wabash, before retiring from the Cedar County Workshop.  Cliff left a lasting tradition as the original creator of Tipton’s tiger paws.  The black and gold tiger paw yard signs he made in his own garage were proudly displayed by Tipton High School students throughout the Tipton community. Always a busy body, Cliff later also worked part-time doing odd jobs at Albaugh PHC. He was a nature buff who enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting (especially “deer camp”), woodworking, Hawkeye football, and listening to music and baking cookies with his friends at Clarence Senior Living. But mostly, Cliff enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, Cody and Katie. Cliff was always whistling or humming a tune, and was the kind of person who cheered up the room just by being in it.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Vera Fecht Krutsinger; brothers, David Krutsinger, Jesse Krutsinger, and Jens Lorenzen; sister, Marie Shipman; daughters, Doris Krutsinger (stillborn), Lorretta Sytsma, and Lynette Canady; and son-in-law, Claude Canady.

He is survived by his half-brother, Dean (Tess) Krutsinger of Waterloo, Iowa; son, Clifford (Tina) Krutsinger of Clarence, Iowa; son-in-law, Owen Sytsma of Oskaloosa, Iowa; grandchildren, Katie (Nick Shirley) Krutsinger of Oxford Junction, Iowa; Cody (Jordan) Sytsma of Ankeny, Iowa; great grandchildren, Lennon and Sully Sytsma; and step-grandchildren, Shelley Canady (Tim) Cross and Scarlett Canady (Roger) Kropp and their families.