Clifford Patz

CLIFFORD L. PATZ, 83, of Pound, was heaven bound and received with open arms by Jesus on October 5, 2024 surrounded by his family after a two-year battle with sarcoma cancer.

He was the first-born son to the late Paul and Mamie (Stank) Patz on May 18, 1941 at the family’s home. As a young boy in seventh grade, Clifford accepted Jesus as his Savior and attended First Baptist Church, Pound, where he was a lifetime member. As an active member he served in many roles including youth Jet Cadet program, church financial treasurer, and, elected church trustee. Clifford and his wife, Nancy, hosted and provided lodging for missionaries and pastoral candidates visiting their church.

He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy (Broderick), on June 8,1963 at First Baptist Church. They were married for 59 ½ years until they were separated by death. Together they raised four sons and were blessed to see their family grow welcoming grandchildren and great-grandchildren to their family circle. Clifford shared his love for the outdoors with his family. Whether it was deer hunting in Wisconsin, hunting trips to British Columbia and Quebec with his sons, fishing the Canadian waters with his grandsons, or hunting walrus in the Bering Sea, he looked forward to these times.

A 1960 Coleman High School graduate, one of his accomplishments was being a member of the first Coleman State wrestling championship team and won second place in the 165-pound weight division. Clifford started work at the family business, Patz Company, while attending high school until his graduation in June, 1960, at which time he became a full-time employee. Clifford enjoyed being a private pilot, logging 2,000 hours flown in the company’s aircrafts. In 1984, he succeeded his father, Paul Patz, becoming the company’s second president. Under his leadership, the company successfully entered the horizontal and vertical mixer markets. He retired on December 31, 2003 ending his 43 ½ year career with the family business.

In 1957, after much searching for an available site suitable for a summer Bible camp with his father and brother, Howard, a farm with a lake near Dunbar, WI was purchased. The Northland Bible camp opened the summer of 1960 with Clifford serving as the first camp director to welcome campers and oversee the daily camp activities. From 1960 to 1995, Clifford served on the Northland Mission and Northland Camp and Conference Center Boards, faith-based ministries, seeing many youths and families from the United States, including foreign exchange students, enjoy Northland’s Bible camps. Clifford accompanied his father to many Board meetings laying the ground work to establish a Christian radio station, WRVM-FM, in Suring, WI.

In 1985, Clifford and Nancy established their family business, Patz Maple and Honey Farms. Together they worked many hours producing a wide variety of natural products they successfully sold through their website, and, many Wisconsin and Illinois farmers markets.

He served as an EMT on the Coleman Area Rescue Squad for 55+ years. He also served as the Coleman Area Rescue Squad Executive Chairman for 40 years. One of the original founders of the Coleman Parents Wrestling Club, he and Nancy traveled many miles with their sons and fellow wrestlers to wrestling tournaments. In May, 2007, Clifford was elected Municipal Judge for the Village of Coleman, and later as the Northeast Wisconsin Joint Municipal Court Judge serving the Villages of Coleman, Pound, Crivitz and the townships of Pound and Beaver. He served in these capacities for 17 years until his resignation.

Surviving are his four sons, Duane (Cheryl), Craig (Diane), Michael, and Mark (Lisa); grandchildren, Derek (Taylor) Patz, Mitchell Patz (fiancé Shyanne Cappelle), Hunter Patz, Gunnar (Katie) Patz, Hope Patz (special friend Michael Sandstrom), Kayla (Jason) Cox, Tanner (Kayla) Schram; great grandchildren, Aliya Cox, Bailee Cox, Vienna Schram, Gryffin Schram, and Briar Broderick Patz; three brothers, Howard Patz, Darrell (Jeannie) Patz and Harold (Joan) Patz; three sisters, LaVerne (Harold) Grosse, Arlene Sailer and Eleanore Gusick; two brothers-in-law, James (Carol) Broderick, David (Kris) Broderick, and, a sister-in-law, Margaret Broderick. Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nancy, brothers-in-law, Rev. Harold Sailer, Roger Gusick, Harold Broderick, and, sister-in-law, Valerie Patz.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Wednesday Oct. 9th from 4-8 pm at the Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home, 235 East Main Street, Coleman. Visitation will continue on Thursday Oct. 10 at First Baptist Church, 3014 Hwy. 141, Pound from 9 am until the time of funeral service at 11 am with Pastor Stephen Peel officiating. Clifford will be placed to rest next to his wife Nancy at the First Baptist Cemetery in Pound. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Coleman Area Rescue Squad, PO Box 139, Coleman, WI 54112.

The family would like to thank Moments Hospice for their care and support.
“I thank God for allowing me to have all these life experiences here on earth. Giving God all the glory and praise for all he has allowed me to do, places visited, and, the people He has placed in my life. I’d be a fool to think that it was by my strength and ability that these happened. Rather, I know it was of God. James 1:17 says, ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights ‘. As I leave my earthly home for my eternal home in Heaven, I give God all the glory and praise for a full life here.” Clifford Patz