Cliff Syverud, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010. He was born on Jan. 7, 1922 in Black Earth, the son of Arne and Sarah (Olson) Syverud. He graduated from Madison East High School in June 1941 and lived most of his life in Madison, retiring from the Postal Service in 1982. During World War II, Cliff served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from Oct. 14, 1942 to October 14, 1945. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, based in England, as a gunner on a B-24 bomber. His plane was shot down on his 23rd mission, over Leifzig, Germany on May 12, 1944. He was held as a Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft No. 4 in Poland. Cliff was a survivor of the infamous 600-mile "Death March" during the winter of 1945. Cliff always remembered the many men they had to leave behind and he never forgot the inhumane treatment they received. Cliff was a 14-year volunteer at the VA Hospital in Madison. He enjoyed his association with the hospital staff and fellow volunteers very much. He was an avid golfer and bowler, a "die hard" Chicago Cubs fan, past Commander of the American Ex-POWs, and was a member of the VFW Post 8483, the D.A.V. and Burke Lutheran Church. Cliff is survived by two sons, Wayne of Jacksonville, FL, and Thomas (Gail) of Ashland; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Arlet, his wife of 60 years; his parents; five brothers; and four sisters. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at Burke Lutheran Church, 5720 Portage Rd., Madison at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Russ Leeper officiating. Burial will immediately follow at the church cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund at Burke Lutheran Church or to HospiceCare Inc. in Cliff's memory. Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Ave. WSJ 1/22/2010