Obituary of Clifford Alexander

Clifford Alexander departed his earthly home peacefully in St. Luke’s Hospital on October 26, 2020, surrounded by Family.

Clifford was born to Clifford and Belva Alexander in Rochester MN, in 1929.  On Sept. 1, 1951, he married a classmate, Karin, and they moved to Ames, Iowa, while he completed his final year of college. They joined the Collegiate Methodist Church in Ames and began what turned out to be a 25-year commitment as volunteer counselors to junior high Methodist youth. They returned to Duluth in 1953 and have remained residents of the Lakeside/Lester Park area for over 65 years where they raised six children.

Clifford was trained as a draftsman and worked for several Architectural firms before finding his true calling, teaching at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He loved woodworking, Britain and travel, Christmas, building houses and forts (for the kids) but was especially gifted at pen and ink drawing and photography, his lifelong passion. He brought amazing creativity, artistry, joy, and laughter to all things he did and will be forever dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and wife Karin. Clifford is survived by his numerous children and grandchildren: sons Roy Alexander and Bruce Alexander of Duluth, Brian Alexander of Minneapolis and Robert Alexander of Hutchinson, Minn.; daughters Leanne Witzig of Tofte, MN, and Karin Beauclair of Cincinnati, Ohio.; grandchildren Naomi, Katie and Hanni Witzig, Rachel, Kelly, Jami and Ryan Alexander, and Alexander and August Beauclair; and five great-grandchildren.