Final Salute

AURORA – Clifford LeRoy “Cliff” Matzner, 75, of Aurora died Thursday, July 22, 2021.
Memorial service and celebration of Cliff’s life will be 3 p.m. Thursday at All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island. Daniel Naranjo will officiate. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy and the Grand Island Honor Guard.
There will be a gathering of friends and family from 2 p.m. until service time.
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Cliff was born Dec. 29, 1945, in Kearney, the son of Frank and Lillie (Brisbin) Matzner. He graduated from Kearney Senior High School, Class of 1964.
On Nov. 19, 1964, Cliff entered the United States Navy and served his country as a Seabee in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged Oct. 15, 1968.
On Dec. 23, 1969, Cliff married Helen Beckman. The couple lived in Colorado for a few years and Cliff was proud of his time spent with the Colorado Mounted Rangers Troop C, serving as their captain.
He received his 30-year pin after 30 years employed in HVAC service with CHI Health between Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Thomas Moore Hospital.
A quiet, private man, Cliff loved the outdoors and fishing was his passion. He loved his family and was his grandkids beloved “Papa.”
Survivors include his wife, Helen; children, Michelle (Robert Jr.) Jackson of San Antonio, Texas, Kimberli (Hal) Jones of Kearney and Chad (Mieke) Matzner of Grand Island; eight grandchildren, Quenton, Kayla, Malik, MacKinzie, Blaine (Makayla), Wyatt, Alieka and Cairee; and two great-grandchildren on the way; a brother and his wife; two sisters; a brother-in-law and his wife; and a slew of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Lawrence and Josephine Beckman; a brother and three sisters.
Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated for an outdoor memorial in Cliff’s honor.
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Published by Kearney Hub on Jul. 26, 2021.