Clifford "Cliff" J. Pobanz

Clifford (Butch) John Pobanz, Jr. of Pigeon, age 80, went to be with his beloved wife, Jane, in heaven on Friday, January 30, 2026. Cliff was born August 12, 1945, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to the late Leona J. (Severson) Pobanz and Clifford J. Pobanz, Sr.

The oldest of six children, he grew up in Bay Port, sharing an extremely close bond with his siblings. Cliff could often be found giving of his time to the community, whether it be helping at the local food pantry, making popcorn at the Laker concession stand, helping at the annual YFC auction, mowing a neighbor’s lawn, or plowing their driveway. He graduated from Laker High School in 1964. Cliff was an extremely proud U.S. Army veteran, having served in Vietnam from 1965 until his honorable discharge in 1967.

He was a member of the American Legion in Caseville and a lifetime member of the VFW. On December 28, 1965, he married his high-school sweetheart, Jane M. Damm, at the Kilmanagh E.U.B. Church. Jane was the love of Cliff’s life. She preceded him in death on December 28, 2022, which was also their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary. Cliff worked hard his entire life. In 1972, he started at the Pigeon division of the Huron County Road Commission where he worked as a grader operator, and later as the Pigeon division foreman until his retirement in 1999.

Left to cherish Cliff’s memory are two sons, Scott (Vicky) Pobanz and Chad (Dawn Ives) Pobanz; and special daughter, Rhonda (Tim) Hackett. He is also survived by his grandchildren who he loved more than anything else in this world, Michael (Abby) Pobanz, Nathan Pobanz, Lindsey Pobanz, and Olivia Pobanz; as well as sisters, Diane (Joel) Caverly, Beckie (Eric) Miller, and Pennie (Bob Bouchaert) Horton; sisters-in-law, Dawn Pobanz and Janet Henne; and brother-in-law, Chuck Anderson; as well as many nieces and nephews who were all very special to him; his morning coffee drinking buddies; and the many friends that he has made along the way.

He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Jane; mother, Leona; father, Clifford, Sr.; sister, Sharon Allen; brother, Bob Pobanz; mother-in-law, Mildred Rosenthal; father-in-law, Walter Rosenthal; sister-in-law, Jill Anderson; and brother-in-law, Dennis Henne.

Our family would like to express our extreme gratitude to the staff of Covenant Hospital and Bay Shores Senior Care for taking such wonderful care of our loved one during his final weeks.

A funeral service for Cliff will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Salem Church, 23 Mabel Street, Pigeon, MI 48755, with Rev. Michael Sawicki presiding. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, at Ransford Funeral Home – Pigeon, 7356 West Michigan Avenue, Pigeon, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday. Memorials may be made to the Pigeon Food Pantry.