MARSHALLTOWN- Rev. Clifford Byron Tjelmeland, 83, of Marshalltown, passed away Monday, February 6, 2012 at the Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the First United Church of Christ in Marshalltown with Pastor Kim Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown. A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 5-7 PM at the First United Church of Christ in Marshalltown.
Clifford was born on March 24, 1928, in rural Story County, Iowa, the son of Martin Vier and Ora (Anfinson) Tjelmeland.
He served his country in the U.S. Army.
Clifford attended Rhema Bible College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in the 1980's.
On March 25, 1950, he was united in marriage to Patricia Jean Ditzler at the Friends of Quaker Church in Marshalltown. She passed away on December 2, 2001. Clifford married Vicki Johnson on November 26, 2011 at the First United Church of Christ in Marshalltown. He farmed and also worked at Rath Packing Company in Marshalltown. He also had his own underground Construction Company. His proudest accomplishment was becoming an ordained minister. Clifford had a long time prison ministry. His life was truly given to the Lord.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Patricia; an infant brother, Eugene; two sisters, Arlet Tjelmeland and Ione Meyers; two brothers, Harlan and Myron; and two grandsons, Garrett Richard Jones, and Brice Dale.
Survivors include his wife, Vicki of Marshalltown; his children, James (Linda) Tjelmeland of Honduras, Gerry Ann (John) Jones of Williamsburg, Scott Tjelmeland of Waterloo, and Danny Tjelmeland of Houston, TX, and Lori (Brian) Dale of Lake City, IA; eighteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his siblings, Lester (Kathy) Tjelmeland of Yorba Linda, CA, Beverly Shalley of Arizona, and Kenny (Rae) Tjelmeland of Maine.
Memorials may be directed to the First United Church of Christ T.J. Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 424, Marshalltown, IA 50158