Clinton Gene Erickson

Clinton Gene Erickson, 93, of Appleton and Webster, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 with his loving family at his side. Clint was born on August 31, 1931 in Waukegan, Illinois, the third of four sons of Tilda and Adolph Erickson. At the age of 2 years, Clint moved with his family to Grygla, Minnesota, where his parents were dairy farmers on their 160 acre farm. The boys attended a small country school, and then went away to attend Oak Grove High School in Fargo, North Dakota.

After graduating from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1954, Clint served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed primarily in Germany, and worked in Military Intelligence, an opportunity he loved. After the army, Clint worked for a year as a credit investigator for Dun & Bradstreet in Montana.

Clint recognized his calling to ministry, and graduated in 1961 from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was during this time that he met and married his dear wife, Sigrid (Englund) Erickson. He served parishes in Red Lake Falls, Mahnomen, Moorhead and Hermantown, and then served as chaplain at Lakeshore Lutheran Home in Duluth, Minnesota. His mother Tilda lived at Lakeshore while he was chaplain there, which was a special time. Clint enjoyed and excelled at chaplaincy ministry, serving during his career as a jail chaplain, police chaplain, prison chaplain and army reserve chaplain.

Following Clint’s “retirement” in 1993, Sigrid and Clint moved to their home on North Sand Lake, near Webster, Wisconsin. Family was present frequently at their lake home, where they were blessed to live next door to Sigrid’s sister Enid and her husband Peter Erickson. The years on Sand Lake were happy years, with visits from family and friends, pontoon rides, games, delicious shared meals, and campfires where Clint was often asked by his grandchildren to read a story or tell his original stories about Blackie, The Bass Lake Bear. While living at Sand Lake, Clint also served part time at three other congregations, most notably at Yellow Lake Lutheran, where he enjoyed nine wonderful years as part of a ministry team of retired pastors. The friendships Clint and Sigrid made during his years in ministry remained close throughout their lives. In the last years, Clint and Sigrid relocated to Appleton, Wisconsin to live closer to daughters Kathy and Jill. Clint enjoyed visits from family and friends, reading, popcorn and movie nights, cross-word puzzles, playing games, and especially an occasional chocolate milk shake.

Clint is survived by daughters Kathy (Jack) Anderson, Gail (Brad) Austin, and Jill (Mark) Austin. He cherished his twelve grandchildren and their families, including eight great-grandchildren, another born just two days after he passed, and two more coming in the next few months. Affectionately called Bumpa, Clint was beloved by all the children, and enjoyed every moment he was with them. He was preceded in death by his wife Sigrid, his youngest daughter Tracy Maloney, grandson Scott Maloney, his parents Adolph and Tilda Erickson, brothers Gerald, Dennis and Dale Erickson, and many beloved in-laws.

Clint’s family would like to thank his many caregivers, including his devoted care team from Moments Hospice, the wonderful staff at Prairie Homes Senior Living and Eagle Point Senior Living, and Dr. Orlando (Angelo) Taleon.

A Celebration of Life service for Clint and Sigrid will be held August 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Lakeside Community Lutheran Church (28626 Rd. H, Webster, WI), with a visitation starting at 10:00 AM and a luncheon to follow. Memorials may be made to the Reverend Eskil Englund Scholarship Fund at the Lutheran School of Theology (LSTC) in Chicago, to support the education of seminary students, or to Yellow Lake Lutheran Church (7615 WIS-U, Danbury, WI 54830), directed to the Sigrid and Clint Erickson Scholarship Fund, which supports local students.