William “Bill” Clifford, longtime DeForest teacher

William M. “Bill” Clifford of Sun Prairie died at home May 7, 2026, at age 81. He was born January 10, 1945, in Watertown to William B. and Mary (Mulvaney) Clifford.

Military service and teaching

Clifford attended St. Bernard's Catholic School and St. Francis de Sales Preparatory Seminary. He spent summers on his family's farm in Danville and served for four years with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps during the Vietnam War, including a deployment aboard the USS Essex and an assignment in San Francisco.

After his Navy service, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from UW–Whitewater. He taught social studies at DeForest Middle School throughout his 38-year career. He met fellow teacher Colette DesForges, whom he married in 1975. They raised three children in Sun Prairie.

Family and interests

Clifford enjoyed traveling, reading nonfiction and welcoming relatives and friends to the family cottage, where he organized fishing, boating, water sports and shared meals.

He is survived by his wife, Colette; children Courtney (Brock) Schraufnagel, Nicholas Clifford and William E. (Amanda) Clifford; granddaughters Ada and Dara Schraufnagel; in-laws Carol Clifford, Kathy and Marty Bradley, Diane and John Shalvis, and Christine and Kevin Doyle; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by parents William B. and Mary; brothers Joseph and Thomas; sister-in-law Germain; nephew Brian; parents-in-law Edmond G. and Colette DesForges; and brother-in-law Fr. Edmond J. DesForges.

Services

Visitation took place May 14 at Cress Funeral Service, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie. A funeral Mass was scheduled for May 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. Burial was to follow at St. Columbkille Catholic Cemetery in Columbus. The family suggested donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.