Clifford J. "Cliff" Ediger

NORFOLK — Services for Clifford J. “Cliff’’ Ediger, 90, of Norfolk will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Stonacek Funeral Chapel here with burial at 3 p.m. at the Aurora City Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday. He died Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Care Center. Cliff was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Henderson to Peter B. and Marie (Ratzlaff) Ediger. He grew up a country boy in Henderson and graduated from Henderson High School in 1940. Cliff married Betty June Bickford June 12, 1949, at the E.U.B. Church in Aurora and celebrated 63 years of marriage. For many years the couple enjoyed farming and country life around Hampton. Moving to Aurora in 1959 brought life in town and the beginning of Cliff’s Studio when the couple went into the photography business that had always been a passion of Cliff’s as a young man. During dating years, Cliff had another important pastime: riding motorcycle and belonging to a Cycle Club to race and tour on his Harley. He also loved fishing, traveling, golfing, making birdhouses and became a Blue Birder. Cliff received an appreciation plaque award from the Bluebirders Across Nebraska (B.A.N.). While in Aurora, Cliff was a charter member of Plainsman Museum and served as president of Aurora Lions Club. He was active in the Professional Photographers of Nebraska, served on the board and won many portrait awards, including The Jack White Award and the Heart of America Eastman Kodak Award, and received his Masters of Photography in L.A. in 1986. While in Norfolk, Cliff and Betty joined the Presbyterian Church. Cliff participated in Lions Club and served the community by helping to deliver Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed landscaping and yard work and was known to snow-plow the neighbors’ driveways as well as his own. Cliff’s survivors include his wife, Betty (Bickford) Ediger; son Mark E. Ediger and wife Merrilee (Hoffman) Ediger of Aurora, Ill., with grandson David M. Ediger and his wife, Michelle (DiMeo) Ediger of Atlanta, Ga; daughter Janaree Ediger Nore of Lincoln with grandson P. Myer Nore and his wife, Arhia Kohlmoos of Boston, Mass., and granddaughter Kathryn M. Nore of Lincoln; and one heavenly daughter, M. Jennifer Ediger; brother Ardean J. Ediger and his wife, Gretchen (Blum) Ediger of Boise, Idaho; as well as many nieces and nephews on the Bickford side as well as the Ediger side of the family. Cliff was preceded in death by parents Pete and Marie; daughter Jennifer; four brothers, Milford, Leland, LeRoy and Arthur. One great thing that is positive about this funeral — family, friends and loved ones will travel long distances to get together to celebrate Cliff’s life. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is located at 1200 N. 13th St., Norfolk, Nebraska, 68701. Interment for Cliff Ediger will be on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at 3 p.m., Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, Nebraska. A special note to Aurora friends: a gravesite ceremony will include the burial of Jennifer Ediger’s ashes at 3 p.m. Cards and/or memorials may be directed to Ediger Family at 1501 Bel Air Road, Norfolk, Nebraska, 68701.

Tributes

Clifford J. "Cliff" Ediger

October 29, 1922 - January 21, 2013