Angell, Clifford James Obituary

Angell, Clifford James attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Angell, Clifford James.

Graduation Year	Class of 1949
Date of Passing	Mar 26, 2009
About	"Cliff," 76, former deputy fire chief for the Elk Grove Fire District, died at his home in Lake Havasu, Arizona, after a lengthy illness. He was born June 4, 1932 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and spent 40 years in the fire service, starting his career with the California Department of Forestry and then the U.S.Air force during the Korean War. His career with the EG Fire District began as a volunteer in 1955, then he and Gerald Derr were hired as the first two paid assistants to Chief Perry Schultz. "We took turns working every night and weekends so that Perry only worked days," reminisced Chief Derr. "We were both nuts to go to fires, and were always on the first engine out, arriving two or three minutes ahead of the volunteers. I well remember crawling on our hands and knees with the fire hose, not knowing where we were going, especially at night, and with no breathing apparatus." "Cliff inherited the first fire chief's car. a 1963 Studebaker pickup, and would plaster it with signs such as "If you smoke in bed, the ashes we sweep off the floor might be you.'" Mr Angell and his family owned 'Angell's Hardware' for many years in Old Town Elk Grove. He retired as deputy fire chief in 1987. "Although he left active duty 22 years ago, Cliff thought of himself as a fireman every day of his life," Said his wife Becci, "always offering an anecdote or observation from his firefighting days with old and young hose jockey's whom he encountered along the way. He enjoyed showing off his 'shrine to firefighting,' helmets, badges, fire department antiques and knickknacks collected during his career. Becci Brodehl Field was a reporter for the EG Citizen when she and Cliff were married in 1983. Following his retirement the couple traveled throughout the country, from Arcadia National Park in Maine to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. One of their travels brought them to Lake Havasu City, and 1987 they decided to settle there by the lake. Mr Angell worked a few years as a truck driver, delivered newspapers, and serviced ATM machines for Wells Fargo. After completely retiring, he began to haunt the "garage sale trail" on weekends and became well known among the tag sale bargain hunters in Lake Havasu City. His love of boating was one of the reasons they settled there. Over the years he bought and sold many type of watercraft. He also loved the outdoors, and when his children were growing up he took them on adventures to state and national parks, hiking, fishing, climbing, and camping across the western U. S. Mr. Angell was preceded in death by his son Dale Angell and brother, Charley Angell. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children Susan Angell of Sandpoint, Idaho, Fred Angell of Sacramento, and Phillip Angell of Plumas Lakes; brother Fredrick Angell and wife Helen of Roseville; sister-in-law Nancy Angell of Elk Grove; and a number of cousins, nieces, nephews. grand-nieces and grand-nephews. On May 9th, 2009 a celebration of his life was held at the EG Fire Station # 71 and a scholarship is being established in his name to a HS student who wants to become a firefighter. -- Elk Grove Citizen