Cliff Baalmann
Cliff Baalman, 83, died Monday, December 8, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Center, Dodge City.
He was born April 8, 1925 on the family farm near Angelus, Kansas, the son of Joseph and Walberga Robbins Baalman.  A Dodge City resident since the late 1940’s, moving from Oxford, Kansas, he was a route salesman for Dodge City Laundry and Cleaners and late in life was a self-employed painter.
He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Mississippi as a member of the Boiler Division Number 2, Fire Room, during the Aleutians, Gilberts, Marshalls, Bismark Archipelago, the Palaus, the Philippines and the Ryukys operations during WWII.  He earned the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 6 battle stars, the Philippine Liberation ribbon with 2 stars, along with American Area.  He was aboard the USS Mississippi when it sailed into Tokyo Bay as a member of Admiral “Bull” Halsey’s Third Fleet Occupation force.
He was a life member of Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714, Dodge City.
On February 14, 1948 he married Elizabeth Ruder at Dodge City.  She survives.
Other survivors include: 2 sons, Richard Baalman, Dodge City and Dennis Baalman and wife Bev, Wichita; his daughter, Susan Baalman, Dodge City; his brother, Neil Baalman, Cole Camp, Missouri; 5 sisters, Bernice Smith, Wichita, Lois Gish, Yorba Linda, California, Jean Jacobs, Plains, Mae Jacobs, Dodge City and Ethlyn Nixon, Park City; 3 grandchildren, Violet Craft, Nicholas Baalman and Amanda Baalman; and 2 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Ann Baalman.
Memorial Service will be 2:00 pm Monday, December 15, 2008 at Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, with Jeff Hiers presiding.  There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place.  Friends may sign the register from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday and 9:00 am to Noon Saturday both at Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel.  Inturnment will be in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City with military rites by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714.
The family suggests memorials to the Pets Miracle Network in care of Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas  67801.  Condolences may be sent to www.burkhart-ziegler.com.