Clifford Entz, 68, went home to be with the Lord on December 15, 2014. He was born to Gus W. and Louise (Busenitz) Entz on Feb. 2, 1946, in Newton, Kansas. Older sisters Lucille and Annabelle welcomed him home, and later Cliff got to be a big brother to Woody.

Cliff grew up near Peabody, Kansas and in his earlier childhood spoke German in the home. He accepted the Lord as his Savior at a young age. He attended elementary and junior high school in Peabody where he made many life-long friendships. He loved getting together with old classmates. Cliff attended high school at Berean Academy in Elbing, Kansas and a few semesters of college at Grace Bible College in Omaha, Nebraska.

He then served at a hospital in Evanston, Illinois during the Vietnam War, where he met his wife of 46 years, Vickie Tyler Entz. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Gordon, Norman and Mandy.

Cliff loved people, especially the elderly. He had a way of making each person feel special, and he could strike up a conversation with just about anybody. He was an honest man who valued high integrity. Cliff had an ornery personality and a passion for the underdog. He considered stubbornness a virtue.

Cliff never questioned God’s sovereignty and instead trusted in Him through the good and bad. The Lord provided peace in the death of Norman as well as when Vickie’s mom died at 55. Cliff also trusted God through many medical ailments. Starting with a heart attack and resulting permanent heart damage in 1998, a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2005, and an aggressive form of myelodysplastic syndrome this year, Cliff never questioned “why,” but remained steadfast in his faith in God. He spent many hours getting treatments at the cancer center and was an encouragement to other patients and staff.

He loved gospel music, especially men’s quartets. He would drive hours for a good concert and would take anyone along who was willing. Sounds of his favorite songs could be heard most mornings and evenings in the home, usually at a higher volume than other household occupants desired.

Cliff’s occupation and favorite hobbies were farming and ranching. Responsibilities came early growing up on the farm, and he did his best to instill this work ethic in his children. He loved raising cattle and horses and was happy to let the grandkids, nieces and nephews have rides on the horses. Cliff spent countless hours working the fields. He took pride in planting straight rows well before GPS technology came along. He never refused a little passenger in the tractor or combine seat, and he taught the kids and grandkids to drive tractor at a young age.

Cliff was a member of Swiss Church in Whitewater, Kansas. He served for many years on the Farmers Grain Co-op Board of Directors. He was also currently serving on the Peabody Fourth Fire District Board.

Cliff was preceded in death by a son, Norman Entz; his parents, Gus W. and Louise (Busenitz) Entz; a sister, Lucille Diller, and a sister-in-law, Ginny Entz.

He is survived by his wife, Vickie Entz of Peabody; a son, Gordon Entz and wife, Shawn, of Peabody; a daughter, Amanda Mohr and husband, Kevin, of Rose Hill; two siblings, Woody Entz of Wichita, and Annabelle (Eldin) Wells of Kearney, Nebraska; a brother-in-law, Tim Diller of Upland, Indiana; five grandchildren, Kody Pasteur, Brandon Entz, Tyler Entz, Katie Pasteur, and Natalie Mohr; and several nieces and nephews, as well as Rusty Entz of Peabody, Kansas, who Cliff considered like a son.

Memorial funds have been established for Ponca Bible Camp, the Peabody Community Foundation, or Wycliffe Bible Translators (ministry #358218 – Jason & Kari Diller), in care of Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S. Main, Whitewater, KS 67154. Cliff attended Ponca as a child, as did Gordon, Norman and Mandy. Cliff’s nephew Jason Diller and his wife are missionaries for Wycliffe in northern Thailand.