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Joseph Clifford “Cliff” Foley

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Birth	:	1 Dec 1927 Madison, Lake County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	17 Jun 2017 Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Saint Thomas Cemetery, Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.9914017, -97.1213989
Description	:	Clifford Foley Clifford (“Cliff”) Foley, a local legend as the long-time proprietor of Foley’s Bar in Madison, South Dakota, died early Saturday morning, June 17, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. He was 89. Despite battling the challenges of dementia for several years, Cliff lived independently, with the assistance of his children and home health providers, until he suffered a stroke on June 7. On the night before his passing, Cliff’s family sent him off in a way they knew he would love, with a pizza and beer party. He had one last sip of beer, and the... Read More	Clifford Foley Clifford (“Cliff”) Foley, a local legend as the long-time proprietor of Foley’s Bar in Madison, South Dakota, died early Saturday morning, June 17, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. He was 89. Despite battling the challenges of dementia for several years, Cliff lived independently, with the assistance of his children and home health providers, until he suffered a stroke on June 7. On the night before his passing, Cliff’s family sent him off in a way they knew he would love, with a pizza and beer party. He had one last sip of beer, and the entire family and many friends had the chance to say a final, loving goodbye. Cliff was born on December 1, 1927, one of five children (including two sets of twins!) of Walter and Mary (Squires) Foley. After a short stint in the Army, Cliff returned to Madison in the late 1940s and joined his father in the family business. Over the years, Foley’s Bar has been Madison’s primary watering hole and social hub, serving generations of loyal customers who learned to love Cliff’s straightforward, no-nonsense manner and sage wisdom. Generous to a fault, Cliff nevertheless wasn’t too fond of the concept of happy hour—“Anyone can give stuff away,” he would say. “The key is to be so good that people enjoy paying you!” As other taverns came and went, Foley’s Bar stood, and still stands, as a legacy to Cliff’s dedication, determination and business savvy. Prior to entering the bar business full-time, Cliff worked as an x-ray technician at Madison Community Hospital, where he met the love of his life, Connie Porter. They were married on July 17, 1950, and spent 57 years together until Connie’s passing in 2007. Cliff and Connie had seven children over a ten-year span beginning in 1952, a challenging lifestyle for any family, but particularly so for a small businessman working 80 hours a week. Despite the long hours, Cliff was a loving and attentive father, even going as far as to coach his youngest son’s Little League team (despite the fact that his youngest son was, by all accounts, a bench-warming scrub). Cliff and Connie scrimped and saved to ensure that all seven kids had the opportunity to go to college, and the result was a veritable full-service organization, producing a doctor, a postal worker, a rehabilitation and speech therapist, the successor to the family business, a nurse, a CPA, and a lawyer. Cliff was affectionately called “Dear Old” by all of his children, a reference to a made-up version of a song called “Dear Old Dad, The Best We Ever Had,” which he would croak on occasion to torture them (good naturedly, of course). Cliff was an active community leader in Madison, serving in various capacities with the Chamber of Commerce, and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Club, as well as the Madison VFW and the American Legion. He was President of the South Dakota Retail Liquor Dealers Association for several years, and in 1982, was named South Dakota Retailer of the Year. In addition, Cliff and Connie were named the inaugural Parents of the Year by the University of South Dakota in 1984. In the 1990s, Cliff stepped away from the long hours behind the bar and he and Connie began enjoying winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where they made many life-long friends and enjoyed their time out of the snow and cold. Their rental houses became a popular (and cheap!) vacation spot for their children, although of course Cliff would always pay much closer attention to his grandchildren on such visits. Their memories of feeding the quail and the roadrunners with Grandpa will live on forever in their hearts. Cliff and Connie moved to Sioux Falls in 2004, and after Connie passed away, he settled into a routine of classic television, crossword puzzles and regular attendance at the grandkids’ sporting events. Sadly, in 2010, Cliff had to endure the loss of his youngest daughter, Conni (Ron) McCann, who died from multiple myeloma at age 52. Despite the heartache of this loss, Cliff soldiered on—“I suppose I could go any time, too,” he would say, “but as long as I’m still feelin’ good, I guess I’m not in any hurry!” Just as he was in Madison, Cliff became a legendary figure among his children’s many friends and acquaintances in Sioux Falls, who loved to visit with him and hear his stories of life in a small town. His dementia was a challenge, particularly for the family members who served as caregivers in Sioux Falls, but Cliff never forgot the names of his children, and remained remarkably upbeat and cheerful to his final days. Cliff is survived by two sisters, Jeanne Schrader and Collette Hofer; two daughters, Debbie (Mark Forrestal) and Chelle (Steve Hart); four sons, Dick (Kate), Dave (Patty), Dan (Lynn) and Tony (Jan); grandchildren Ben, Jessie (Chris), Matt (Becky), Patrick (Anna), Allie, Aaron (Misha), Kristin, Dave (Shanna), Sean, Bridget, Samantha, Claire and Nick; and great-grandchildren Georgia, Sophie, Eva, Cooper, Will, Neeson, and James (who was born on Cliff’s 87th birthday). The list of Cliff’s nieces and nephews is far too long to recite, but they were always in his thoughts and prayers. In addition to Connie and Conni, Cliff was preceded in death by his brother, Francis, his sister, Maribeth (Floe), and his niece, Kay Schrader Standing (Rick Standing). Catholic visitation will be at Weiland Funeral Chapel, 320 N. Egan Ave. Madison, from 5 PM to 7 PM on Tuesday, June 20 with a prayer service at 7 PM followed by a Rosary. Visitation will continue from 9:30 AM to 10:15 PM on Wednesday, June 21 at the funeral chapel followed by procession to the church for mass. Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 217 N.W. 4th St., Madison, at 10:30 AM, with inurnment to follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. After inurnment, lunch will be served in the gymnasium at St. Thomas School, adjacent to the church. After lunch, all are welcome to enjoy a celebration of Cliff’s life at Foley’s Bar, 120 S. Egan Ave., Madison. Cliff and all of his brothers and sisters attended St. Thomas School, as did all of Cliff’s children, and the family asks that any memorials in Cliff’s memory be directed to the St. Thomas School Foundation, 401 N. Van Eps, Madison, SD 57042 and http://www.stsmadison.org/foundation. - Weiland Funeral Chapel

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Joseph Clifford “Cliff” Foley's memorial?
Joseph Clifford “Cliff” Foley's memorial is located at: Saint Thomas Cemetery, Madison, Lake County, USA.
When did Joseph Clifford “Cliff” Foley death?
Joseph Clifford “Cliff” Foley death on 17 Jun 2017 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Joseph Clifford “Cliff” Foley's memorial?
Latitude: 43.9914017
Longitude: -97.1213989

Family Members:

Parent

Walter Bartholomew Foley

(1893 - 1971)

Mary Clarissa Squires Foley

(1889 - 1978)

Spouse

Constance Jane “Connie” Porter Foley

(1927 - 2007)

Siblings

Mary Elizabeth “Maribeth” Foley Floe

(1925 - 2001)

Francis Ray Foley

(1933 - 1948)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Thomas Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9914017, -97.1213989

2. Graceland Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0127983, -97.0903015

3. Prairie Village Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0064000, -97.1691000

4. Old Madison Cemetery
Madison, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9786600, -97.0492800

5. Lake Park Cemetery
Wentworth, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0363998, -96.9981003

6. Lake Madison Lutheran Cemetery
Rutland, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0806030, -97.0439740

7. Rose Hill Cemetery
Wentworth, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9919014, -96.9749985

8. Olson Cemetery
Junius, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9785720, -97.2683500

9. Franklin Cemetery
Chester, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8918991, -97.0282974

10. Gracevale Colony Cemetery
Winfred, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9260500, -97.2814600

11. Saint Peter Lutheran Cemetery
Orland, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8611200, -97.1694800

12. Prospect Cemetery
Chester, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8997002, -96.9689026

13. Saint William Church Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1228270, -97.2103790

14. Ramona Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1234740, -97.2103790

15. Saint Ann's Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1483002, -97.1418991

16. Ramsey Pioneer Cemetery
McCook County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8428001, -97.2166977

17. Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Ramona, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0950012, -97.2977982

18. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Chester, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8913994, -96.9332962

19. Winfred Cemetery
Winfred, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0078011, -97.3606033

20. Ash Grove Cemetery
Nunda, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1674995, -97.1136017

21. Prairie Queen Cemetery
Nunda, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1411018, -96.9899979

22. Ramsey Baptist Church Cemetery
Montrose, McCook County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8333015, -97.2410965

23. Orland Colony Cemetery
Montrose, McCook County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8189730, -97.1970890

24. Saint Jacobs Cemetery
Colton, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8092003, -97.0586014