Cletus Fish Obituary

Cletus V. Fish, 81, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, May 26, 2025, at his home in rural Waukon. Memorial services will be held Sunday, June 1st, at 1:00 PM at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Karla Johnson officiating. Friends may greet the family from 11:00 AM until the time of services Sunday at the funeral home. A private family burial will be at Rossville Cemetery. The service will also be streamed on the funeral home's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/martinfunerals.

Cletus Vernon Fish was born December 28, 1943, in Monona, IA, the son of Lester Vernon and Laura Ruth (Decker) Fish. He grew up in the Rossville area, attending country schools and Waukon High School. His first car was a light blue 1960 Chevy Bel Air with a white top and double muffler and he also had a Harley; much to his future father-in-law's dismay, they could always hear him coming up the road to visit Norma. On August 4, 1965, he and Norma Martin married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. They resided in Winona, MN, for about a year while Cletus worked for Watkins Research before returning to Allamakee County; in 1967, they purchased their dairy farm in Ludlow Township, where they have lived ever since. Besides Holsteins, they also raised beef cattle and hogs. In 1992, he sold the cows and worked as a machinist at Gencor-Bituma in Marquette until 2009. After retiring, Cletus continued to help on his renter's farm and loved using all the brand-new equipment.

As an adult, Cletus was baptized in the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in rural Postville, remaining a member throughout his life. He also belonged to the Machinists Union, Allamakee ATV/UTV Club, and the Rivers and Bluffs Classic Tractor Club. International was his tractor of choice and he liked restoring them, including his dad's International from 1964, and collecting toy tractors. His children and grandchildren were the love of his life and they spent many family vacations in Florida. Cletus made homemade ice cream, a tradition passed down from his grandfather and father, and also enjoyed a good margarita from time to time. He made a few trips to Sturgis, SD, with his cousins throughout the years and he and Norma did a lot of traveling as well. They took many bus trips around the country, visiting most of the states, took a Caribbean cruise, and thoroughly enjoyed going to Nashville to see the classic country stars.

Cletus is survived by Norma, his wife of almost 60 years, of rural Waukon; his children: Lisa (Scott) Brimeyer of Guttenberg, IA, Bryan (Erika) Fish of Waukon, Darcy (Chad) Radloff of Postville, Dawn (Greg) Stuart of Marion, IA, and Steve (Holly) Fish of Ossian, IA; grandchildren: Justin (Jade) Brimeyer, Emily (DJ) Martin, Travis, Jillian, and Jenna Fish, Hannah and Logan Radloff, Courtney (Tyler) and Cody Stuart, and Penn and Paisyn Fish; great-grandchildren: Oliver, Josie, and Charley Martin and Parker and Finn Brimeyer; two brothers: Wayne (Sandra) and Verle (Jenny) Fish, both of Waukon; sisters-in-law: Joan Fish, Mary Kay Martin, Joyce Sickels, and Doris Martin; and brothers-in-law: Earl, Charles, and Dennis (Deanna) Martin. He will be missed by his beloved dog Maddie as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Dayton Fish; brothers-in-law: Harlan and Wayne Martin and Oakley Sickels; and sister-in-law Elaine Martin.

Honorary bearers are Cletus's 11 grandchildren.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Cletus Fish, please click here to visit our sympathy store.