Clifford Gene Simons, 79, of Delavan, died June 10, 2015, at Lakeland Health Care Center.
He was born in Portland, Ind., in 1936, to Clifford D. and Mary M. Simons. After attending Portland High School, he attended Purdue University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering in 1959. During his college years, he was an active brother of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and served in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
In 1958, he married Oneida Greer. Together they had three daughters, Gina, Joni and Dana; and a son, Ryan.
His professional career spanned 46 years. He spent the majority of that time in engineering and management positions with Sta-Rite Industries and J.I. Case, owned his own business and finished his working career as a top producing real estate broker. A highlight includes 18 patents he was granted for his engineering design work.
In 1973, he married Lynn Zimmerman, of Delavan. Shortly after they married, they moved to Lake Geneva with Zimmerman’s three children Amy, Nate and Noel. They remained in the Lake Geneva area until 2007 when they moved back to Delavan.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn; his seven children, Gina (Joe) DeBolt, Joni (Craig) Gustafson, Dana Simons, Ryan (Molly) Simons, Amy (Peter) Tanke, Nathan (Ann Marie) Zimmerman, Noel (Cori) Zimmerman; 12 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Laurence (Patty), Philip (Karen), and David (Jackie) Simons; and stepsisters, Jacki Pickett, Virginia Fennig and Michelle Spahr. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a stepfather, Burl Whiteman.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Linn Presbyterian Church in Lake Geneva. A visitation will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. with a luncheon following the service also at the church.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Delavan-Darien Rotary Club, P.O. Box 521, Delavan, WI 53115. Remembrances can be left at the Betzer Funeral website betzerfuneralhome.com.
