Clifford A. Fossum Jr. was born March 12, 1930. He was confirmed by Carl 0. Pederson at First Lutheran Church in Onalaska. He was baptized by Rev. Vik. He graduated from Onalaska High School in 1948. He then attended the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee in 1950. As a young boy, Clifford worked very hard. He delivered the Milwaukee Sentinel, the Milwaukee Journal and also the La Crosse Tribune. He also worked at the Onalaska Canning Company, delivered lefse for Minnie Volla, and worked for Moen.
He worked for the Cement Factory of Midway, at Bugs Knutson's Standard Station in La Crosse and at Outers Laboratory in Onalaska.
On September 23, 1950, he married Elaine R. Gilster of Medary. Elaine became a licensed mortician in 1952. The couple lived in Bangor where they worked in partnership with his parents. In 1963, Clifford and Elaine purchased the Hellwig-Morris Funeral Home in La Crosse. In 1967, they purchased the Runnestrand Funeral Home in Ettrick. When Mrs. Fossum died they purchased all of the Fossum Funeral Homes and have continued to operate them. Clifford and Elaine are the third husband and wife team of funeral directors in Onalaska.
Like his parents, Clifford, Jr. is an active member in community affairs. He is a charter member of the Rotary Club, member of the La Crosse Plugs, United Commercial Travelers, Sons of Norway, National Funeral Directors Association, Holmen Lion's Club, Bangor Business Men's Club, Onalaska American Legion Post 336, Licensed Mortician Wisconsin and Minnesota, member of Ducks Unlimited in three chapters: Onalaska, Holmen and Bangor, and a member of the Holmen and Bangor Rod and Gun Club.
Elaine R. Fossum was born Aug. 3, 1932, in La Crosse, to Alfred and Helen (Woehlke) Gilster. Elaine grew up on the family vegetable and dairy farm in Medary and attended Fauver Hill Elementary School. She was a graduate of Logan High School. Elaine wrote the exam to be a Wisconsin funeral director, and she and her husband owned and operated the Fossum Funeral Homes in Onalaska, Bangor and Ettrick. Elaine continued to operate the funeral homes until her passing on September 17, 2014 and was a member of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association.
Clifford operated a sincere, old-fashioned business among life-long friends, in a new and modern facility. He loves antiques and has an old horse-drawn hearse which he used at his Grandfather Casberg's funeral in 1982.
Clifford Jr. and Elaine have one son, Curt Allen, who was born on April 23, 1969.