It is with heavy hearts that we announce Cliff’s passing in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, at the Kipling Integrated Health Centre with his family by his side.
Cliff is survived by his loving family – his wife, Lee; daughters Nancy and Lynn; and his two precious granddaughters, Slone and Rylee Bishop; his sister, Gloria (Klaus Tonn); brother-in-law Wallace (Dorothy) Heaton; sister-in-law Phyllis Heaton; and brother-in-law Merv Summers; his very special nieces and nephews and many lifelong friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Jim and Reta Stender; his brother-in-law Ken Heaton; and sister-in-law Marj Summers; and his biological relatives whom he met in later years including his half-brother, William Paisley.
Cliff was born in Regina to a young, single mother and was in a children’s home in Moose Jaw until the age of about 14 months when he was adopted into the loving home of Reta and Jim Stender in the Hazel Valley District south of Kipling. Cliff enjoyed life on the farm and especially the horses, sheep and cattle. Much time was spent riding horses in the hills south of the farm. In 1963 the family moved into Kipling where Cliff spent the next 20 years as a parts man for Co-op Implements until it closed, he then drove a fuel truck out of Kennedy and in 1987 purchased the Kipling Laundromat and Carwash which he operated for the next 34 years. Cliff enjoyed his time at the laundromat and was always ready for a good, long chat with anyone who ventured in.
Over the years Cliff was a member of the Kipling Fire Department and the Lions Club. He curled for many years and learned to curl with a stick when his health deteriorated. He was a proud father at all of Nancy’s and Lynn’s sporting and school events and this continued on as a proud grandfather at Slone’s and Rylee’s figure skating and ball games, even this past year in spite of his many health issues. He seldom missed watching a Blue Jays game.
Funeral service was held in the Kipling United Church on Aug. 25 with Wayne Lewis officiating followed by interment at the Hazelwood Cemetery. If friends so desire, contributions to the Kipling United Church, Box 121, Kipling S0G 2S0 or a charity of your choice may be tokens of remembrance.
