Obituary: Hinrichs, Clifford W.
Age 95
Cliff was born on June 5, 1917 to Johanna and Gustave Hinrichs on Long Island, New York.
He lived and worked in New York until WWII broke out, at which time he joined the U.S. Navy.
After enlisting early in 1942, he was assigned to the “Seabees”, a construction battalion on Peleliu in the South Pacific.
After his discharge in 1945, Cliff went to work for Airkem Industries.
Airkem produced the well known “Air-wick” air fresheners.
One of his responsibilities there was to help in the development of fragrances.
In 1950 he married Helen Lovett.
They moved from New York to Spokane in 1964 in order to be closer to family.
Cliff began working at Lakeland Village, a home for the developmentally disabled in 1968.
Several years later he transferred to Eastern State Psychiatric Hospital as Housekeeping Supervisor.
Helen passed away in 1975.
She and Cliff had no children.
In 1982, Cliff married the true love of his live, Vivian Hauer.
They married just as they both retired.
Thus began 25 “Golden Years” for Cliff and Vivian.
He was welcomed into her extended family, who were exceedingly grateful for his loving care of their mother.
Cliff and Vivian’s years together were filled with numerous trips throughout the United States, including cruises to Alaska and Hawaii.
Cliff was an avid golfer and played into his 94th year.
A dedicated Seattle Mariners and Gonzaga Basketball fan, he finally made it to a Mariners game at the grand old age of 91!
Vivian passed away in 2007.
It was difficult for Cliff to lose his “Angel”, but his memories of her and the help of family and friends sustained him in his last years.
Cliff had a wonderful sense of humor and will be greatly missed by his “adopted” children: Harold, Winifred, Fred, Dennis, Cynthia and Valerie.
Cliff cherished the memories shared with great friends Mary Stevenson, Mitch and Jenn Brotherton, Marg and Lee Clow, Don and Claudia Tarbert and many others too numerous to mention.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.