Clifford Krapf, Sr. was born in 1936, to Calvin & Lois (Wonn) Krapf at the Coaldale Hospital. Growing up in Tamaqua, PA with 3 older brothers (Bill, Phillip, Calvin Jr.) made life interesting, adventuresome & eventful. When WWII started, Lois cried "all the time" worried that her husband Calvin would be sent to war, but the recruiter wouldn't allow him to as "his boys needed him more." They lived on 4 different streets in 4 different wards resulting in 4 different elementary schools before they moved to "the farm" in South Tamaqua.
In 1952 Calvin & Lois moved the family to California. Cliff enlisted in the military at age 17 & was stationed in Texas & Kansas. Honorably discharged, Cliff moved back to CA in his 1950 Ford sedan that he proudly purchased himself, the first of a few as he was "a Ford man" his entire life! Cliff met Dannene when working together at Teledyne, Inc. After numerous requests she finally went on a date with him for his birthday, and they were married 6 weeks later in Las Vegas! They were able to purchase a new home in Simi Valley, CA where they started their family, having Cliff Jr. & Cathy.
After a few years of saying, "The kids will get a better education in Pennsylvania!" they moved back to the Tamaqua area where they built a new home in Lake Hauto. They were so happy to host a few family reunions at the lake. Cliff worked at Kraft Foods in Fogelsville through the next decade, and they decided to move back to CA when Cliff Jr. & Cathy were young adults.
After another decade of being a maintenance manager in the food industry, they moved back to Lancaster, PA, being able to retire after 4 years of working hard to pay off their new home. Struggling with a lengthy illness, Dannene went Home to be with Jesus in 2012. Cliff mutually helped neighbors, opened his home to a friend Sydney. Cliff had a fairytale come true when he met & mutually fell in love with Liubov, getting married at 85 years old in 2021, and has lived his best, most loving years since.
After a month of fighting numerous illnesses, Cliff peacefully went Home to be with Jesus on August 23, 2026.
Cliff is survived by his son Cliff Jr. & son-in-law John in CA, daughter Cathy & son-in-law Doug in PA, and stepson Sasha & Julia & granddaughter Olga in Russia, and stepdaughter Olga in MD. His beloved cats will miss him!
Caring for Cliff after his death is David Eames (high school friend of Cliff Jr.), owner of The Labs Funeral Home, Inc. in Honey Brook, PA.
Cliff's Celebration of Life will be held at Blue Mountain Community Church, 25 Oak St., Palmerton, PA on Saturday, September 12, 10:00am Visitation, and 11:00am Service officiated by Pastor Cliff Eckhart.
In lieu flowers, please consider donating to "2nd Chance 4 Life Rescue" animal rescue, PO Box 549, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 or www.2ndchance4liferescue.org as Cliff loved his pets!
Additional information and online condolences, please visit www.thelabsfh.com