Obituary for Clifford LeRoy Pratt
Clifford LeRoy Pratt, Father of The Year award holder of 28+ consecutive years (1991-beyond),
went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 29, 2019.
As points of utmost pride, he would tell you about his kids. Jori, Haley and husband Darren, and
Grayson. He lived for his family. He taught them how to love, how to pray, how to laugh and
how to be a good sport. Nothing was more important to him.
He thoroughly enjoyed sports, which thoroughly deepened his strong relationship with his kids.
He loved a good ball game, be it a professional event or his children’s games. Baseball games
with the family are some of his fondest memories. In recent years, Grayson took up dirt track
racing. Cliff assumed the role of crew chief and biggest fan. Racing quickly became a passion
and an avenue for him and his children to make beautiful memories.
A family man. He adored his dear younger sister, Darla. He is so proud of her kind, nurturing
soul and her loving family: Kelvin, Kyle, Dane, Derek and Kirk and their families. Many hearty
meals were lovingly consumed during Cliff and his family’s visits Darla and Kelvin’s South
Dakota home.
He enjoyed many road trips and weekend visits with his parents, Joan and LeRoy. They shared
a strong bond. A mutual love of coffee, Christ, home-cooked meals, puzzles, sight-seeing,
history and so much more.
He conditionally loved the Twins, but only when the Yankees weren’t in town. A beleaguered
Minnesota sports fan. His passion for the game is unmatched and on display through his
baseball card collection, fantasy football with the buddies, support of his kids’ athletics and
having coached his son’s youth baseball team.
He had a life-long love affair with sweets that came second to his love of baking themchocolate chip cookies, rhubarb crisp and muffins. His signature dessert, Special-K bars, will
forever be regarded highly at family gatherings, or simply for no occasion at all. On no occasion
did anyone accuse Cliff of turning down a Special-K bar.
He excelled as a competitor, be it on the basketball court or at the card table in a game of Rook
against his parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, children and nephews. A quiet, gentle man, but a
competitive one. Often accused of cheating for regularly winning, but he always played fair.
Cliff excelled at his career in computer science and information technology. Through it he met
lifelong friends.
Cliff was a proud man of faith. Through the highest of highs and lowest of lows, he always
looked to Christ.
He enjoyed the open road and a warm, sandy beach. Cliff enjoyed cruising, and got to enjoy two
in the last two years with loved ones. Cliff appeared his happiest gazing out at the ocean with
his loved ones at his side. Speaking of the open road, he was a Ford man.
Cliff is survived by his children, Jori, Haley and husband Darren and Grayson, his parents Joan
and Lee, his sister Darla and Kelvin, his nephews Kyle, Dane, Derek, Kirk and their families,
and dear friends Bobbie and Corey.
A celebration of Cliff’s life will be held at Kozlak - Radulovich Funeral Chapel (13745 Reimer
Drive, Maple Grove, MN 55311) on Saturday, January 4, 2019 from 10am-12:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Minnesota Prostate Cancer
Coalition.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Minnesota Oncology who took exceptional care of
him over the years.
went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 29, 2019.
As points of utmost pride, he would tell you about his kids. Jori, Haley and husband Darren, and
Grayson. He lived for his family. He taught them how to love, how to pray, how to laugh and
how to be a good sport. Nothing was more important to him.
He thoroughly enjoyed sports, which thoroughly deepened his strong relationship with his kids.
He loved a good ball game, be it a professional event or his children’s games. Baseball games
with the family are some of his fondest memories. In recent years, Grayson took up dirt track
racing. Cliff assumed the role of crew chief and biggest fan. Racing quickly became a passion
and an avenue for him and his children to make beautiful memories.
A family man. He adored his dear younger sister, Darla. He is so proud of her kind, nurturing
soul and her loving family: Kelvin, Kyle, Dane, Derek and Kirk and their families. Many hearty
meals were lovingly consumed during Cliff and his family’s visits Darla and Kelvin’s South
Dakota home.
He enjoyed many road trips and weekend visits with his parents, Joan and LeRoy. They shared
a strong bond. A mutual love of coffee, Christ, home-cooked meals, puzzles, sight-seeing,
history and so much more.
He conditionally loved the Twins, but only when the Yankees weren’t in town. A beleaguered
Minnesota sports fan. His passion for the game is unmatched and on display through his
baseball card collection, fantasy football with the buddies, support of his kids’ athletics and
having coached his son’s youth baseball team.
He had a life-long love affair with sweets that came second to his love of baking themchocolate chip cookies, rhubarb crisp and muffins. His signature dessert, Special-K bars, will
forever be regarded highly at family gatherings, or simply for no occasion at all. On no occasion
did anyone accuse Cliff of turning down a Special-K bar.
He excelled as a competitor, be it on the basketball court or at the card table in a game of Rook
against his parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, children and nephews. A quiet, gentle man, but a
competitive one. Often accused of cheating for regularly winning, but he always played fair.
Cliff excelled at his career in computer science and information technology. Through it he met
lifelong friends.
Cliff was a proud man of faith. Through the highest of highs and lowest of lows, he always
looked to Christ.
He enjoyed the open road and a warm, sandy beach. Cliff enjoyed cruising, and got to enjoy two
in the last two years with loved ones. Cliff appeared his happiest gazing out at the ocean with
his loved ones at his side. Speaking of the open road, he was a Ford man.
Cliff is survived by his children, Jori, Haley and husband Darren and Grayson, his parents Joan
and Lee, his sister Darla and Kelvin, his nephews Kyle, Dane, Derek, Kirk and their families,
and dear friends Bobbie and Corey.
A celebration of Cliff’s life will be held at Kozlak - Radulovich Funeral Chapel (13745 Reimer
Drive, Maple Grove, MN 55311) on Saturday, January 4, 2019 from 10am-12:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Minnesota Prostate Cancer
Coalition.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Minnesota Oncology who took exceptional care of
him over the years.