Frederick Cluskey 1944-2026

TheVillagesDailySun.com

Sep 15, 2026

BRIMFIELD - Frederick Joseph "Fred" Cluskey, formerly of Brimfield, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at his home in The Villages, Florida.

Fred was born in Peoria, Illinois, on February 20, 1944, the son of Wilbur H. and Dorothy R. (Stenger) Cluskey.

Fred is survived by his three sons, Eric J. (Dawn) Cluskey of New Jersey, Kenneth J. (Lisa) Cluskey of Washington, D.C., and Paul E. (Jill) Cluskey of Jackson, Wyoming; two grandsons, Paul E. Cluskey Jr. and William F. Cluskey; his brother, George (Linda) Cluskey; four sisters, Mary Ann Koehler, Carol Jensen, Jan McCaw, and Fran Litherland; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Charles Cluskey; his sister-in-law, Marie Cluskey; and three brothers-in-law, Norman Koehler, Chris Jensen, and John Litherland.

Fred proudly served his country as an Officer in the United States Army, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service.

Fred originally hoped to become a veterinarian, but he did not have the financial means to pursue college on his own. An opportunity came when he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Illinois to study Dairy Technology. Fred embraced that opportunity, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Technology and setting the course for what would become a successful career in the food industry. While at the University of Illinois, he was a member of Nabor House Fraternity and Alpha Zeta. He later earned a master's degree in Food Science from the University of Minnesota.

Fred began his professional career with Land O'Lakes. After a number of years there, he joined Dairyland Products, then a small food-ingredient company. Combining his scientific background with his business career, Fred played an important role in helping grow Dairyland into a highly successful ingredient company. Dairyland became a major supplier of ingredients to Thompson Medical for Slim-Fast, and Fred helped develop the final formula for the product. He eventually served as Executive Vice President of Dairyland Products. Following the successful growth and eventual sale of the company to Kerry Foods of Ireland, Fred retired from his business career at the age of 49 and turned his attention to another of his great passions: horses.

Fred's interest in horses went far beyond recreational riding. During his years in Minnesota, he was a member of the Orchard Rangers Horse Club and served with the Mounted Patrol. In retirement, horses became an even greater part of his life. He spent years training and riding Arabian horses, trail riding throughout the American West and competing in team penning before eventually focusing on the demanding sport of endurance riding.

Fred was drawn to the challenge of endurance racing and competed numerous times in the legendary Tevis Cup, a grueling 100-mile endurance ride through the Sierra Nevada mountains, successfully completing the race twice. As he grew older and retired from competitive endurance riding, he remained closely involved with the sport. He later served as one of the judges responsible for helping select the riders who would represent the United States in international endurance competition and accompanied the U.S. team to Dubai for an international race.

Fred was a loving father who took great pride in his three sons and the lives and families they built. He taught his boys the importance of hard work, preparation, and making the most of the opportunities that came their way. One lesson he often shared with them was that "luck is when preparation meets opportunity." It was a philosophy reflected in Fred's own life and one he worked to pass along to his sons.

Fred also kept another set of words close throughout his life, displaying them on plaques in his home: "I have the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." The words reflected an outlook on life that was important to Fred and one that those closest to him came to know well.

Fred especially treasured the time he spent with his grandsons, Paul and Will. He was a devoted and involved grandfather who made being part of their lives a priority. Over the years, he traveled countless miles to be there for them, attending their games and sporting events from their youth years through college. He took tremendous pride in watching them grow and compete, but even more simply spending time with them and being part of their lives. His grandsons were a great source of pride and joy to him, and the many years and experiences they shared were among the most meaningful of his life.

In his later years, Fred greatly enjoyed his home in The Villages, Florida, where he spent part of each year and valued the community and friendships he found there. He divided his time so that he could spend roughly half the year closer to his grandsons. It was a balance that suited Fred well enjoying the life and friendships he had built in Florida while continuing to make time with his family an important part of his life.

Celebration of Life

Family and friends are invited to gather for a Celebration of Life for Fred on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie, 7601 N. Orange Prairie Road, Peoria, Illinois 61615.

Dinner and drinks will be served as family and friends gather to share memories, stories, and celebrate Fred's life.

Graveside Service

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Calvary Cemetery, 13010 N. Maher Road, Brimfield, Illinois 61517. Certified Funeral Celebrant Nicole Reed will officiate. Golnick Family Funeral & Cremation Services (formerly Haskell) in Princeville is assisting the family with arrangements.

Condolences may be left for Fred's family on his tribute wall at Golnick Family Funeral & Cremation Services.