Clifford (Cliff) Eise left our world peacefully on March 17, 2024 at 6:50 pm surrounded by family. Cliff leaves behind his wife of almost 62 years Martha (Edwards) Eise, his daughter Rebecca (Eise) Kappel and her husband Mike, granddaughters Anna, Clara and Elissa, sisters Mary Jo Eise Corcoran and Barb (Eise) Finn, and brothers Kenneth, Leroy, and Dwayne. Cliff joins his parents, Estelle and Kenneth Eise, his brothers Dennis and Tom, and his children, Mary Elizabeth and Joseph.

Cliff was the third of eight children, born to Estelle and Ken on February 22, 1940. The Eise family lived primarily in the Maryridge subdivision in St. Ann, Mo., a community of small homes ironically designed for large families. In fact, in order to purchase a two-bedroom, one-bath home, a family was required to have three children. Cliff grew up down the street from his grandparents and their large family. Surely due to proximity but also due to his big heart, family remained his priority for his entire 84 years.

Cliff attended St. Gregory Elementary School and Duchesne High School, and served for two years in the 82nd Airborne, an experience that he would return to later in life as an active member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association and again during his struggle with dementia.

In June 1962, Cliff married Martha Edwards after having had been family acquaintances for many years. Both of their fathers were in the local automotive industry, with Martha’s father, Edward Edwards, owning and operating a repair shop in Overland and Cliff’s father running an auto parts storefront in St. Ann (with the ideal slogan — “The Eise Have It!”). Cliff and Martha interacted in typical pre-teen and teen fashion when their families were together…they ignored each other. Until fortuitously Ken Eise suggested that Martha write to Cliff while he was away at Ft. Bragg. After many sweet letters, the collection of which was recently found and reread, they fell in love. They married about one year after Cliff’s quick lunchtime proposal, and begin what was to be an almost 62 year marriage. They purchased their first and only home in unincorporated north St. Louis County and Cliff started what would become a lifelong career as a graphic artist with the Direct Mail Corporation of America, working for years in downtown St. Louis on Washington Avenue.

Martha and Cliff suffered great losses as their life together begin. They lost their first two children – Mary Elizabeth, who was born in 1966 and lived just five days, and Joseph, stillborn two years later. They remained without children, enjoying hobbies such as camping, fishing and handball/racquetball, until 1976 when, to everyone’s surprise, Martha gave birth to what would be their only child, Rebecca Ann.

Becoming a mother at what was then considered the ripe old age of 35 was no easy task. After a loving but rocky start, Martha and Becca were inseparable. So inseparable in fact that Becca refused to be left with any babysitter besides her maternal grandparents, whom she called Nannie and Poppie, or one lone woman named Irene. Martha and Cliff were fantastic parents to Becca, a good balance between strict and comforting — Cliff, with his aversion to watching Saturday morning cartoons or eating processed foods, and Martha who always provided a comfortable lap and a listening ear. Becca enjoyed a childhood in with a tightknit school community where Martha and Cliff were ever present in activities and committees, from Homecoming to Bus Committee to Girl Scouts, and of course rooting her on as she enjoyed nominal success in high school tennis.

Cliff was a hobbyist. He played handball weekly until he absolutely could not anymore. He played the guitar daily, albeit for many years with a limited repertoire. He was a prolific fine artist, working with mastery in every medium. His skilled depiction of Sunday morning cartoon characters left for her when she woke up for school brought Becca great joy. His ten plus foot tall stained-glass window welcomed parishioners to Our Lady of Mercy until it closed in 2005. His large portraits of the Sacred Heart and the Holy Family welcoming worshippers to St. Martin De Porres until it closed in 2023. The walls of their home were filled with his works and their home was his masterpiece as well. Cliff designed and built a room addition in 1972 that featured vaulted cedar plank and beam ceilings and ten-foot-tall windows overlooking the creek that ran through their back yard. Later in life he became skilled at classical guitar, performing and volunteering with the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society Orchestra. After retirement, Cliff also began designing and building instruments. He was most prolific with native American flutes, cigar box guitars, and, inspired by his granddaughter Anna, violin restoration.

Cliff loved and adored his grandchildren, Anna, Clara and Lissa Kappel. They spent countless overnights at Maw Maw and Paw Paw’s house — painting, cruising around in “the pink Jeep”, making movies on the computer, and doing some pickin’ in the basement. Cliff offered his granddaughters creative freedom and was amazed by everything they did. He loved “the girls” with his whole heart. He had a special relationship with his niece, Amanda and her daughter Arloe, who often visited and also had the opportunity to learn from his creative spark.

In Fall of 2023, Cliff was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a disease previously unknown to him or his family and characterized by a loss of understanding, extreme anxiety and paranoia. That began a rapid series of major changes for Martha and Cliff. With the support of their daughter, they endured a long hospital stay, the sale of their forever home, and a move to assisted living. Cliff’s deterioration quickly placed him in a separate memory care room away from Martha. He was plagued by hallucinations and confusion. In his last few months he enjoyed visits with his family, drawing with Becca and, of course, chocolate “malts.”

Cliff passed away at Mercy DeGreeff Hospice House on March 17, 2024. His family would like to thank the caregivers at Dougherty Ferry Assisted Living and DeGreeff, his sister Mary Jo, whose countless visits while they were still at home were a huge support, his siblings and friends who both called and visited, and his Unity Hospice staff, Mindy and Ann in particular, who were indispensable in guiding his care in his last few months.

A memorial visitation for Cliff will be held Tuesday April 2 from 5-7pm at the Estate House at Laumeier Park. Mass will be held on Monday, April 8 at 9:30am at St. Martin des Porres in Hazelwood, with burial following at Jefferson Barracks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society, the St. Louis Art Guild, or the Lewy Body Dementia Association. 

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