Brees, Clifford D.

Clifford D. Brees, 79, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Aug. 25, 2010, at his home in Keota. Visitation will be 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, with a memorial service following at 2 p.m. Burial: 7 p.m. Sunday at the Keota Cemetery.

Clifford was born March 4, 1931, in Rockford, Ill., to Clifford and Ruth Brees. He graduated from East High in Rockford in 1949. He earned his B.A. degree from Iowa Wesleyan in 1952 and his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1962. On June 8, 1952, he married Joan Jacobs in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. They were married for 58 years.

Cliff began his teaching career in New London, then taught in Rockford for eight years at East High School and five years at Guilford High School, where he also served as athletic director. He coached football, basketball, track and baseball. In 1967, he and his family moved to Cedar Rapids, where he became the PE Department head and athletic director. The eight years Cliff was the Washington athletic director was one of the most successful in the history of the school, and perhaps any school in Iowa. Washington won 27 Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) championships and 19 state team championships. Cliff also served as the MVC commissioner for 20 years. He also taught elementary physical education throughout the district.

Cliff received the Marv Theilen Contributor Award in 1989, IHSAA School Administrator's Award in 1992, and was inducted into the Cedar Rapids Washington High School Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Iowa Wesleyan College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He received a 25-year active official plaque from the ISHAA in 1995 and is the namesake of the annual MVC Sportsmanship Award.

While Clifford was an extremely accomplished academically, he was equally an honorable and well-loved family man and a good friend to many. He will be missed. He will be remembered always.

Survivors include his wife, Joan; sons, Scott (Tami) and Kip (Susan Cahill); grandchildren, Katie (Chris) Button and Cameron (Kristin) Brees; great-grandchildren, Tracy and Madison; and one sister.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; one sister; and a grandson, Brent Brees

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Brent Brees Memorial Scholarship Fund. Mail donations to Clifford Brees, PO Box 27204, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312.

Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Clifford and his family.

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