The Rev. Michael J. Clifford, 82, Peshtigo, entered into eternal life on Thursday, April 23, 2015. He was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Appleton to William and Dorothy (Hatton) Clifford.
As a young boy, he attended St. Patrick Catholic Grade School in Menasha before going on to Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, graduating with the Class of 1951. Michael then attended junior college at St. Francis Minor Seminary in Milwaukee for two years and continued his education at St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in January 1957.
He then returned to St. Francis de Sales Seminary, Milwaukee, and earned a Master’s in Divinity degree.
On June 11, 1960, he was ordained by Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay. Father Mike celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination on June 6, 2010, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Peshtigo with his family, many past and present parishioners and friends.
Following his ordination, the Rev. Clifford was temporarily assigned to the Office of Associated Diocesan Societies, Green Bay, and served as an assistant pastor at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Green Bay. He was then appointed to St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Neenah, where he served as assistant pastor until 1971. His added responsibilities included serving as chaplain at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Cities Newman Club Center at Menasha until 1965.
As an assistant editor of the Green Bay Register for a short time during this period of his life, he resided at St. Jude Rectory in Green Bay.
Father Mike became pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, Appleton, in 1971. Father served many parishes in the Green Bay Diocese, including St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Waupaca (1974), St. Mary Parish, Peshtigo (1978), St. Mary Parish, Algoma (1983), St. James Parish, Cooperstown (1984) and St. Anthony Parish, Oconto Falls (1987).
He served as administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Coleman/Pound, and St. Wenceslaus Parish, Klondike (1994). In addition to these assignments, Father Mike also served as priest celebrant at St. Michael Parish, Suring, and St. Mary Parish, Peshtigo.
The Rev. Clifford is a former member of the Marinette Elks Lodge No. 1313, Waupaca Knights of Columbus Council 3432 and a charter member of the 4th Degree Chain O’Lakes No. 1862 Assembly, Waupaca.
Survivors include one sister-in-law, Ruth Clifford, Neenah; seven nieces, two nephews, many grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, William Clifford; and his brother, George Clifford, and sister, Patricia Fenlon, both in 2009; one brother-in-law, John Fenlon; his friend and longtime caregiver, Marie Peterson, on Feb. 26, 2012; and great-uncle, the Rev. George A. Clifford, pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Menasha (1915-31).
Reception of the body by Assistant Regional Vicar, the Rev. Celestine Byekwaso, will take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 171 S. Wood Ave., Peshtigo. Visitation will continue until 11:45 a.m. Friday.
The funeral liturgy, expressing our faith and our hope in the promised glory of the Lord’s resurrection, will take place at noon Friday with Bishop Robert J. Banks as celebrant. Burial will take place Saturday, May 2, 2015, on the family plot at St. Margaret’s Catholic Cemetery, Neenah.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to St. Meinrad Archabbey & Seminary, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577.
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