Clifford Harry Sunderman was born on August 31, 1920 on the family farm northwest of Clarinda, Iowa, the son of Emil Frank and Minnie Clara (Meyers) Sunderman. Clifford entered into eternal peace on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at the Elm Heights Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa at the blessed age of 90 years.
Clifford attended Immanuel Lutheran Church which was north of his home. He was baptized on September 12, 1920 and confirmed on March 25, 1934. His memory verse was "He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died from them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5-15. Clifford was very serious about his faith and walked with the Lord throughout his entire life. He attended the Immanuel Lutheran Parochial School through the eighth grade. He then attended the Clarinda High School and graduated with the Class of 1938. A youthful highlight, at age 15, Clifford placed 1st in his division and 3rd overall with his Angus steer at the American Royale in Kansas City, MO.
On March 17, 1946 he was united in marriage to Maxine Elizabeth Warner in the Bethesda Lutheran Church. The couple resided in on a farm in rural Coin where Clifford and Maxine raised their daughters. He retired from farming in 1983 and the couple moved to Shenandoah in June of 1984.
Clifford had a passion for raising crops. He began his farming career in 1938. His also enjoyed tending to his farrow to finish purebred SPF Hampshire herd and selling breeding stock for twenty years.
He served on the board of Star Telephone in Coin and was a member when they converted to the "dial" system now known as IAMO Telephone Company. He also served on many church boards and was a Sunday School teacher for many years. He was also named and advertised in the Hampshire Herdsman Magazine. Clifford was an avid reader throughout his lifetime. He enjoyed reading up on his hog operation and how to make it better. He also spent many hours reading his Bible. Later in life he enjoyed listening to the Lutheran Hour on the radio and made dozens of cassettes of church sermons and special music so that he could enjoy listening at his leisure. During his retirement he enjoyed woodworking and making many projects for his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of sixty years, Maxine, two brothers Mervil Sunderman and Roger Sunderman, sisters-in-law Mabel Sunderman, Lyda Sunderman, Milda Sunderman, Florence Sunderman and Mary Brownlee and two nephews David Sunderman and Mark Sunderman. He is survived by his daughters Karlette (Dennis) Thornton of Coin and Charmaine Sunderman of Omaha; grandchildren Jake (Jillinda) Thornton of Coin, Aaron Sunderman of Omaha, Jamie (Paul) Hutt of Sidney, Josh (Karen) Thornton of Braddyville and Nathaniel Thornton and friend Melissa Comstock of Shenandoah; great-grandchildren Samantha Thornton, Kayleigh Hutt, Braidy Hutt, Emily Hutt, and Isaac Hutt, Austin Taylor, Chase Sherwood, Cole Thornton and Tanner Thornton; brothers Otis Sunderman of Lincoln and Arlo (Roseanna) Sunderman of Braddyville; brothers-in-law Bruce (Elinor) Brownlee of West Des Moines and Charles (Joan) Warner of Clarinda; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.