Clifford Tank

Clifford Louis, son of Louie and Anna (Schroeder) Tank, was born May 27, 1921 on the Tank family farm six miles north of Manning. He attended Washington Township rural school through eighth grade and then started working full time with his father on the farm after the death of his mother. On September 12, 1945, Cliff was united in marriage with Helena Gerdes at the Presbyterian Church in Wall Lake. They made their home on the farm where he had been raised and were the parents of four daughters. Cliff was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Manning where he served as Trustee and Elder and was an active member of Masonic Lodge #450. Cliff devoted his life to a career on the farm and took great pride and joy in his farming. The Carroll County Beef Producers and F.H.A. Board in Carroll County benefited from his membership. Cliff served as a Director of Washington Township Country School where he had attended as a child. After Cliff retired from farming in 1984, he and Helena moved into Manning where he built their home. Over the years, in their spare time they enjoyed golfing at the Manning-Manilla Country Club as well as dancing, traveling and playing cards. Cliff enjoyed woodcrafts and helping the elderly with odd jobs. Spending time with his family and friends was very important to Cliff. Cliff's health began to decline in 1996 and when he was no longer able to remain at home with the care of his loving wife and family, he became a resident of the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in 2004. He spent a short time at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View and then returned to the Plaza in 2005 where he died on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at the age of 89 years, 2 months and 25 days. Preceding him in death are his parents Louie and Anna Tank; parents-in-law Gerd B. and Grace Gerdes; brother Robert Tank; and brother-in-law Gilbert Bourn. Cliff is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years Helena Tank of Manning; four daughters: Dian Schons of Mahwah, NJ; Gretchen and husband Allen Rowedder of Jefferson; Gwen and husband John Detlefsen of Manning; and Becky and husband Jim Venner of Breda; 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister Norma Bourn of Woodland, CA; AFS daughter Bronwen and husband Grant Hart of Christchurch, New Zealand; 4 sisters-in-law Hermanetta Tank of Manning; Mavis Gerdes of Wall Lake; Annetta Geerdes of Primghar; and Esther Bielema of Wall Lake; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Music - CONGREGATION "HERE I AM, LORD" "MORNING HAS BROKEN" "JUST AS I AM WITHOUT ONE PLEA" "HOW GREAT THOU ART" CONNIE SIEPKER, ORGANIST Casket Bearers TRACY ROWEDDER TOM SCHONS PHILLIP DETLEFSEN MATTHEW DETLEFSEN JUSTIN VENNER MELISSA BISHOP HEATHER LANSMAN SARAH LLOYD JACQUELINE VENNER SENSKE Honorary Casket Bearers BILL OPPERMAN VERNUS GRIMSMAN RUSSELL KROEGER DON HINNERS JACK GRIMSMAN