Clifford J. Chandler

Clifford Joseph Chandler was born on August 31, 1927 in Randall, Minnesota, Clifford graduated from Little Falls High School and immediately enlisted in the US Navy in 1945, even though he was only age 17 at the time. While in the Navy, he was out at sea in ports around the world and while on land he was stationed in Florida, Virginia, North Dakota, California and finally in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1965 he transferred to the fleet Reserve after retiring from active duty. When he retired at age 37, he pursued various sales careers including insurance, mutual funds, airplanes, satellite systems and cleaning products. He also operated a number of small businesses including real estate, mobile home parks, a motel, a video store and a pressure washer dealership. The business that he was most known for was ‘C & M Homes’, a mobile and modular home dealership that he founded in 1969. He ran that business for over a decade with Mildred Chandler and his three sons. Clifford was a Mason and a Shriner for over 50 years. He served as Master of the Little Falls Masonic Lodge #140 more than two terms. After the Little Falls Lodge closed, he continued to be an active member of the Brainerd Masonic Lodge #100. He was also a lifetime member of the Randall VFW and active in several other service organizations, as well as the Randall Presbyterian Church. He liked to be on the water, fishing locally, in Canada and in Lake Michigan. After obtaining his captain’s license, he motored his 28’ boat down the Mississippi River, from Minneapolis to the Gulf of Mexico. Cliff obtained his Private Pilot’s License in 1959. He owned and operated at least seven airplanes over three decades. He enjoyed taking cross-country trips with friends and family. Later in life, Cliff pursued his passion for traveling by taking a great many motor home trips throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico. For the last six years, he wintered in Arizona. Clifford was preceded in death by his father Joseph George Chandler, his mother Florence "Bates" Chandler, his sisters Carolyn Chandler, June Zimmerman, Joan Johnson, Marybeth Fields, and his brother Donald Chandler. He is survived by his first wife of 41 years, Mildred Chandler, and by his second wife, Leone Wilcox, by his two sisters, Irene (Gwenn) Maxwell and Darlene (Belamy) Foster. He is also survived by his three sons, James, Richard and Gregory, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Pallbearers: Grant Joseph Chandler, Roy Hollandsworth, Jeffrey Maxwell, LeRoy R."Butch" Zimmerman, William "Bill" Rodgers and Donald Sterner. Merle Ballou, Honorary Paulbearer.

Tributes

Clifford J. Chandler

August 31, 1927 - March 27, 2011