Clifford Robert Kortman
Clifford Robert Kortman, 89, of Rogers City passed away February 14, 2017 at Golden Beach Manor. He was born on the family farm in Ocqueoc May 26, 1927 to Robert and Lydia (Wiemert) Kortman.
Cliff graduated from Onaway High School in 1947. After graduation he worked on the farm until taking a job with the Department of U. S. Fish and Wildlife at the Hammond Bay Biological Station doing sea lamprey research. He was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed in Austria during the Korean War as a cook. Upon returning home, he married Mae Proctor at Trinity Lutheran Church May 10, 1958. He continued working at Hammond Bay until his retirement in 1987. In 1968 he purchased Minelli’s Restaurant and renamed it Kortman’s Restaurant. He and his wife, Mae, ran the restaurant until they sold it in 2006. Cliff enjoyed collecting all things “C”, cars, clocks, coins and chicken candy dishes. He also enjoyed drawing and painting wildlife pictures. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Rogers City Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 607. Cliff had a huge heart and when he saw a need he was there to lend a helping hand.
Clifford is survived by the love of his life, Mae; two children, Robert (Lisa) of Rogers City and Linda (Larry) Johnson of Grand Rapids; four grandchildren, Richard Kortman, Jeremy (Caitlin) Kortman, Leilani Kortman and
Amanda (Justin) Menkveld; three great-grandsons, Emmett Menkveld, Lincoln Menkveld and Phineas Menkveld; and three sisters, Lydia Baller, Loreen Peek and Betty Wenzel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lydia; siblings, Caroline Kortman, Esther Appleberg, Ida DeWyre, August Kortman, Dorothy Phillips and Bob Kortman.
Friends may visit at the Beck Funeral Home today (Thursday) from 3 until 8 p.m. where the Rogers City VFW will offer a military tribute at 6:45 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ocqueoc from noon through time of funeral at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Lloyd Ziebarth officiating.
Interment will take place at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Glawe School, or Hospice of the Sunrise Shore in memory of Cliff Kortman. Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.