Clifford G. Abbott

Greetings folks, Cliff here, reporting from the other side. Who would have thought I'd be the one to pen my own obituary, eh? You know me, always the adventurous one, never one to shy away from a challenge. As someone who knew the importance of a good foundation, I spent my lifetime restoring floors, making old things shine like new. Abbott Hardwood Floors was my baby for 20 years, and boy did we make those planks gleam! The Pabst Mansion, the Harley Davidson home, and countless floors in Washington Heights now sport my handiwork. A resilient man, that's what I was. I'm rather proud of that.

Life? Well, it was quite a ride. Born in Milwaukee on a sunny day in 1962, I moved a bit, lived a bit, laughed a lot. West Allis was my playground before I settled down in Arkdale. I wore many hats - owner, operator, brother, father, grandpa. But the hat I wore proudest was that of a dad. My kids - Dale, Andrew, and Jenn - and my granddaughter, Kyla, they were my world. Sherry, my ex-wife, and I raised them with all the love we had. And speaking of family, I'm one of a big, rowdy bunch. Shout out to my siblings Kevin, Karen, Anne, and Josie, and to my late sister Arlene. We were a spirited lot, weren't we? As for my parents, Dale and Frances, they're here with me now. We're having a grand old time, reminiscing about the good old days.

I was many things in life - a loyal friend, a hard worker, a man of grit. But most importantly, I was a man who loved the woods. Hunting, fishing, trapping - you name it. If it had to do with the great outdoors and adventure, I was in. As John Muir once said, "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." And that's exactly what I did, I sought and found more than I ever expected.

So here's to a life lived fully, with enough memories to fill a mansion. And remember, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all," as Helen Keller wisely said. So live your adventure, folks. I sure lived mine.

Let's keep the memories alive, shall we? Head over to my memorial page. Share your stories, your photos, your favorite Cliff-isms. Let's remember the good times and the lessons learned. And hey, if you can't think of anything, just share a photo of a gleaming hardwood floor. I'd appreciate that.

In lieu of monetary gifts and flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of Clifford. He was a supporter of this organization