Clifford Grasmick

Clifford Grasmick, 97, relocated to his heavenly home on December 11, 2022. His earthly life, December 8, 1925 – December 11, 2023 is represented not so much by those far apart dates, but how he used the time represented by that dash and the two surrounding spaces. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he and his parents moved when he was very young to a farm near Sugar City, Colorado. Two generations from German immigrants in Russia on the Volga River, he traveled to Europe in 1944 serving in the U.S. Army in the Rhineland Campaign. After returning home to the farm, he and his parents moved to Lakewood, Colorado in 1948. He married Elaine Kannenberg in that year, and they were together until she preceded him in death in 2016. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict, serving stateside at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He worked for Francis Brothers lumber and demolition in Lakewood during the 1950s, when the post War development of the Lakewood area accelerated. He earned an MBA from the University of Denver in 1952. He served as Manager of the Jefferson County School Employees Credit Union. He served as Chair of the Colorado Central Credit Union board of directors for many years  and was known to understand the impact of financial transaction on the lives and futures of the people involved. Throughout his life he was involved in service to others. A Rotarian for 65+ years, one of our favorite images was when at age 77 he was pictured on a ladder working on a community service project, because “It feels good to be able to help the old-timers.”Service in the Kingdom of God was always a dominant theme. Ac active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood for many years, and a charter member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Applewood, he served in many offices, as Elder, congregational President, and was very active in the actual construction of the St. Luke’s first building project. He is survived by three children, Allen Grasmick (Janet) of Morrison, Gary Grasmick (Cheryl) of Thornton. And Sheri Renzelman (Kreg) of Lakewood, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Private burial is scheduled at Fort Logan National Cemetery January 6, with a service of celebration and faith at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 13119 W. 20th Ave, January 6, 2023, at 2:00 pm.Sometimes we can be so focused on the length of life that we forget its depth. He achieved plenty of both. Memorial contributions can be sent to the St. Luke’s Memorial fund, the Alzheimer’s Association, or to Rotary International.