Clifford "Cliff" Albert Kehrli

Clifford Albert “Cliff” Kehrli, 92, of Manchester, Iowa, died on Monday, August 3, 2026, at MercyOne Medical Center in Dyersville where caregivers treated him like family. He was born on July 20, 1934, on his family’s farm near Ryan, son of Raymond and Pearl (Galitz) Kehrli. Cliff attended a one room schoolhouse through 8th grade and then graduated from Manchester High School in 1952. He served honorably in the United States Army.

On June 28, 1959, Cliff married the love of his life, Susan Albright, in Mt. Vernon. They had two children, creating a warm, nurturing home which sometimes included teasing “Bickerson’s moments” in their tiny kitchen when Army-Cook-School-Cliff and ISU-Homemaker-Susan collided. Cliff was a Northwestern Mutual agent for 40 years and a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table. 

Cliff served the Delaware County ARC chapter and was a longtime member of the Manchester Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and past president. Cliff’s family welcomed Lee-Ann Ormandy from South Africa as their second daughter through Rotary’s exchange program. Cliff was a council president of First Lutheran Church, an active member and past-president of Manchester Golf and Country Club, and served on the Manchester Public Library Board of Directors. 

Cliff held a private pilot’s license with instrument and commercial ratings. He flew his beloved son, Kurt, to school in Beatrice, Nebraska, to provide the best opportunity for Kurt’s education, and his daughter, Millie, relished her role as co-pilot. Cliff enjoyed traveling with Susan and Millie, including a Yugoslavian tour with NM agents and families and Hawai’i through MDRT. Cliff, Susan and Millie explored Europe together, and Kurt enjoyed trips to Arizona and Caribbean cruises with his parents. Cliff and Susan created lasting memories visiting Lee-Ann and her family in South Africa. Always up for an adventure, Cliff loved finding a local winery or brewery and was a passionate storyteller. Family and friends were Cliff’s priorities; he was blessed with a rich collection of close friends who became family. He was immensely proud of his family and cherished spending time with them, especially his granddaughters and their dogs and cats. 

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Susan Kehrli of Manchester; son, Kurt Kehrli of Manchester; daughter, Millie (Harlan Robinson) Kehrli of Manchester; two granddaughters, Sarah (Taylor) Nickel and Rebekah Frese; and an extended family including many nieces and nephews. He treasured his roles as Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle Cliff. 

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty (Albert) Zumbach; and his brother, Ronald Kehrli. 

Memorials may be directed to Manchester Public Library, First Lutheran Church, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Camp Courageous, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
 

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