Clifford Graybill, age 88 of Sac City, IA, passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Loring Hospital in Sac City, with family by his side. Clifford Warren Graybill was born on January 30, 1937, the third of four children, to parents Joe and Ruth (Burgess) Graybill at their home in rural Arthur. He grew up on the farm and helped his father with the farmwork while attending school in Arthur. Cliff joined the Army National Guard while in high school, and after graduating in 1954, he remained enlisted until he was honorably discharged in 1963.
After graduation, Cliff chose to stay home and work on the family farm. In 1956, he met the love of his life, Judy Buckingham, who he married February 22, 1958, at the Methodist Church in Sac City. Their union was blessed with five children, Christy, Tracy, Joel, Bradley, and Michael. Cliff and Judy began their marriage in Sac City where he worked at Noble Manufacturing. In 1975 he was transferred to the Noble plant in Missouri until 1978. Cliff and the family, sans one daughter, made their way back to Sac City, where he returned to work at the Noble plant until it was closed in 1983. The family, leaving the second daughter and a son in Sac City, then moved to Sterling, CO, where he was the plant manager of a bean elevator until 1988. Leaving two boys in Sterling, they then moved to Gifford, IL, where one son later followed, and Cliff worked in upper management at Eagle Wings Industries, Inc. until his retirement in 2001. After retirement, Cliff and Judy left their last child in Illinois and came back to Sac City to enjoy their golden years. It was a longstanding joke that they left a child in every state they lived so they would always have a reason to go back and visit.
Throughout the years Cliff and Judy enjoyed going dancing on the weekends, playing cards with family and friends, and spending as much time as they could with their grandchildren. Clifford was an avid sports lover and was involved in bowling and golf leagues for many years. He also played on local softball and basketball teams during the beginning years of his marriage to Judy. Even after Cliff slowed down with playing sports himself, you could always find him watching and cheering on his favorite basketball and football teams along with his favorite PGA golfers.
Clifford was never one to sit around, so when he wasn’t playing or watching sports, he was busy tinkering in the yard or his garage or helping family members with any projects they needed done. He took great pride in being the patriarch of the family and he loved to have his children and grandchildren visit so he could be the master griller for everyone. After supper, time was best spent with a nightcap and stories reminiscing about family and younger years.
Cliff will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who gave the best hugs and the most honest advice; even if it wasn’t what you wanted but needed to hear. He will be missed dearly by all that knew and loved him.
Cliff is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Judy Graybill of Sac City, IA; children: Chris Anderson of Peculiar, MO, Tracy (Bill) Townsend of Sac City, IA, Joel (Esther) Graybill of Holstein, IA, Brad (Stacy) Graybill of Pleasanton, TX, and Mike (Kathy) Graybill of Gifford, IL; grandchildren: Nikki Reiman, Eric (Melissa) Reiman, Brandon (Amy) Townsend, Blake (Becca) Townsend, Ashley (Devin) Conover, Brent Graybill, Joel Jr. (Haley) Graybill, Shania Graybill, Allyson Graybill (JT Caldarola), Shawn (Caitlin) Graybill, Kristyn (Connor) McCallister, Bradley Graybill (Rachel Sellars); 12 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law Pic Pilloud and Dana (Rosie) Buckingham, and sister-in-law Tami (David) Schmidt.
Clifford was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Ruth; brothers Charles and Gaylen, and sister Joyce; his father and mother-in-law Eugene and Vivienne; sisters and brothers-in-law Betty Jean, Jimmy Lee, Elaine, David, Mitzi, and Larry; his son-in-law Mark; and granddaughters Kathy and Becky.