RACINE – On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, surrounded by his loving family, Clifton Oliver Strom, age 89, peacefully entered eternal life at Sheridan Medical Complex in Kenosha. Oliver was born in Racine on March 29, 1926, to Clifton Ola and Elizabeth Margaret (nee Seater) Strom. After his mother's death before he was 2 years old, Oliver was raised by his father and his second wife Verna Bell (nee Roberts). He graduated from Washington Park High School in 1944. He served in the Army until contracting an eye disease which blinded his left eye. He graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha in 1950. On November 17, 1951, he was united in marriage to Marie Arlene Bogucki, who had preceded him in death by a mere 25 days on August 12, 2016. Together they raised nine children.Oliver spent the majority of his working career and retired from Young Radiator Corporation. After retirement, he worked seasonally preparing tax returns for H & R Block, and occasionally taught the tax preparation class. He also drove cars to various dealerships in Wisconsin for Metro Auto Mart.Oliver was a faithful member of Bethany United Methodist Church until it closed. Then afterwards he found his church family at Olympia Brown UU Church where he enjoyed its book clubs and coffee fellowships. Oliver was an avid reader who spent many hours at the Racine and Kenosha Public Libraries. He always enjoyed the local paper, but he absolutely loved reading the New York Times or Chicago Tribune each day. He was passionate about being a member of Milwaukee Public Television and watching its programs, and he loved to listen to National Public Radio. He always had classical music playing on the radio.Above all, Oliver dearly loved his large family and enjoyed his many grandchildren. Left to cherish his memory are his 8 surviving children – Christine (Richard) Wade, Rondi (David) Jenkins, Karen Garner, Theresa (David) Schanke, James Strom, David (Tinker) Strom, Jennifer (Christopher) Baierl, and Margaret Strom; his 10 grandchildren – Michael (Tracy Laskovich) Wade, Julia (Ricardo Carrillo) Wade, Daniel (Veronica) Jenkins, Rebecca (Christopher) Guendel, Thomas Mabry, Brett Garner, Scott Schanke, Sarah (Rohan Dighe) Schanke, Alex Baierl, and Sam Baierl; his 10 great-children – Anthony, Kaylyn, Ryan, Jayden, Delilah, Kai, Caden, Kayli, Isabela, and Nico; his sister Mary (Ernest) Schoenfeld, his sister-in-law Alicia Lawrence, his brother-in-law Edwin (Shirley) Bogucki, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Arlene, his son John, and his brother-in-law Burton Lawrence.A memorial service for Oliver will be held at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, 625 College Avenue, on Friday, September 16, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at the church on Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Private burial will take place at a later date at Mound Cemetery.The family would like to thank the staff at Sheridan Medical Complex and Allay Hospice for the compassionate care shown to Oliver in his final days.