Clifford W. Wyman

Clifford Willis Wyman died June 3, 2020 of natural causes. He was born in Hollywood Township, in Carver County on October 11, 1926, to Frank Nathan Wyman and Minnie Amanda Gloege Wyman, who were farmers. Being the youngest of six, he had older brothers and sisters to look up to and learn from. He was only five or so when they moved away from the farm.

As a youngster, he worked in the onion fields in Maple Plain area pulling weeds in the summer. The family fished in area lakes for many dinners, and through this came a love of fishing and eating Sunfish, Crappies, Northern Pike, Bullheads, and Walleye.

Cliff attended kindergarten and elementary school in Maple Plain and eventually West High School in Minneapolis. When Cliff’s family moved to Minneapolis, he delivered newspapers and worked in a neighborhood grocery. He worked with his brother and brother-in-law doing roofing.

Cliff loved technology, and began by learning Morse code and became an operator. He copied Russian code for the government in his attic. At an early age of 17, he convinced his Dad to sign for his enlistment in the United States Navy while the world was still at war. Cliff wore his uniform proudly for his country.

After induction in Minneapolis, Cliff transferred to Farragut Naval Training Station in northern Idaho. After his basic training, Cliff left in March of 1945, arriving at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, where he boarded the USS Saratoga (CV3) and served aboard her until August 1946. He made voyages from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to San Diego, California ferrying soldiers coming out of battle at the end of the war. The mission was called the Magic Carpet.

Saratoga and Cliff visited the Pacific - Quadulan and Marshall Islands, Bikini Atoll, and Wake Island. Cliff earned Radioman 2nd Class while gathering ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore messages. In mid-1946 the Saratoga sailed to Bikini Islands and became a target at the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean for nuclear weapon tests during Operation Crossroads. Saratoga survived the first test, Able, and Cliff later went aboard the ship that night to inspect damage and eat dinner. The Saratoga was sunk by the second test, Baker, on July 25, 1946. Cliff witnessed the Saratoga sinking from a distance. He was the last radioman on the Sara before she sank. Sara’s ship’s bell now stands proudly at the Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York, with the ship’s silver service on display in downtown Saratoga, New York.

Cliff transferred to several other vessels while in communications, and earned distinguished medals of Honor. After his service, Cliff married Lorraine (Rae) Katherine Sitar on September 3, 1949. Cliff was then again called up to support the Korean War effort. Cliff spent basic training at the Naval Service Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, and attended refresher school in Seattle, Washington. He was re-enlisted to a duty station in Adak, Alaska where he copied Russian code and ran the weekly films for 1 year. Cliff was then transferred to Washington, DC for 5 months to serve at a radio station, breaking down codes in the correspondence office, before separating from naval service one last time. He earned another Honorable discharge.

After the discharge, Cliff and Rae returned to Minneapolis, and he began a career with Western Union as a chief technologist. The family built a new home in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota where they lived for 66 years. Eventually Cliff also worked with satellite connections and was a troubleshooter.

Cliff’s off-work hobbies included home maintenance, photography, fishing, and travel. He also enjoyed fixing broken radios and TVs. He was an avid Ham Operator for many years, surrendering his K0WU license in 2017. He and the family went on a month-long camping trip every year with the tent trailer to experience lots of national parks, mountains, oceans, and visited with lots of relatives.

Cliff loved to take the camper trailer on the ice and the entire family would spend the weekend fishing, eating, and playing cards. He was involved briefly in local politics and also took the Red Cross Life Saving training. Cliff was elected as the Union President for many years at Western Union and after retirement, became the Secretary of the retired group.

Cliff and Rae proudly supported 4 children, 13 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. All of the grandkids learned about Grandpa Cliff’s “Dad” jokes. Grandpa Cliff loved to joke around and steal your dessert, if you weren’t paying attention.

Retirement came in the late 1980s followed by more traveling. Some of the family attended the Saratoga Navy Reunions. He enjoyed walking through the woods and did so many nights after dinner. They both enjoyed traveling to see the all the grandkids events and were very family driven.

As they got older, Rae entered the nursing home, and Cliff dutifully visited her and her roommate daily for 5 years. When Rae passed away, Cliff’s life got quieter. He enjoyed reading, listening to music and radio programs, playing with the computer, his iPad, and his phone. For the past few years, Cliff spent mostly at home, with his son’s help. Cookie the dog, kept him on his toes.

He lived a full life. He loved and was loved.

Survived by children, Lorraine Mary Mitchell, Cynthia Ann Tovsen (Tony), Clifford James Wyman (Linda), Frank Arthur Wyman (Terry); 13 Grandchildren; 26 Great Grandchildren; 3 step Great Grandchildren; 1 Great, Great Grandchild; and expecting 1 Great, Great Grandchild.

Preceded in death by Wife, Lorraine Katherine (Sitar) Wyman; parents, Frank and Minnie Wyman; parents in-law, Frank and Katherine Sitar; son-in-law, Mike Mitchell; granddaughter, Angelique Lorraine Tovsen; and all 5 siblings.

Mass of Christian Burial 10 AM Wednesday, June 10 at the Church of St. Alphonsus, 7025 Halifax Ave N., Brooklyn Center.

Visitation Tuesday, June 9, 5-8 PM at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel 3888 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale.

Interment  Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis MN.