Clifford E. Penrose

Clifford E. Penrose MARION-Clifford E. Penrose, 91, of Marion passed away at 7:00 AM, Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. There will be a gathering for family and friends from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Clifford’s home. His ashes will be buried, with full military honors, next to his wife Cenith in Polk, Nebraska. Blue Funeral Home in Marion is assisting the family with the arrangements. Cliff was born on October 4, 1918 on a farm near Udall in southeastern Kansas. He grew up in Wichita, Kansas and attended the University of Wichita (now Wichita State University) before joining the Kansas National Guard. He entered active military duty on December 20, 1940, before the United States entered World War II. After having served in the last working unit of the United States Horse Calvary, he graduated from Officer Candidate School in the 60th Armored Infantry Battalion of the Ninth Armored Division, where he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action during the Battle of the Bulge. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal for Bravery, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart and various Campaign Medals. From 1946-1949 he served on the Hiroshima and Okayama Military Government Teams as Public Health and Welfare Officer during the occupation of Japan after World War II. Cliff served in the Far Eastern Command during the Korean War from 1952-1953. He retired from the United States Army in November 1965. He remained very active in many church and community affairs and was an active leader in the Boy Scouts of America for over 20 years. Survivors include four sons, Clifford, David, Douglas and Dana and their wives; eight grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; four loving step-children; and many more grandchildren from his second marriage to Rosalie. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Cenith (McCoy) Penrose; his second wife, Rosalie (Hughy) Penrose.