Fred Clark Metcalf Obituary (1939

Fred Clark Metcalf, 85, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024 at the Halcyon House in Washington, IA. As were Fred's wishes cremation has taken place. A memorial service in Fred's honor will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA with Pastor Mark Clark officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Fell Cemetery immediately following the service. Following the burial at Fell Cemetery, a luncheon will be provided at the Community Center in Libertyville. A visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in Fred's honor may be directed to a veteran's organization of the donors choice. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Fred was born on March 31, 1939, in Beech Iowa. He is the youngest son of Carl and Reva Metcalf of Knoxville, IA. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1957. He met a beautiful blonde model from Chicago while she was on vacation and he worked as a fishing guide at Lost Land's Lake Resort in Hayword, Wisconsin. Jacquelynne Miller, with whom he fell in love, was later married. The marriage lasted for over 62 years until she passed away on November 22, 2020. Fred further continued his education starting with an Applied Associates Degree from the College of DuPage in Wheaton, IL; Elmhurst College with a degree in Art Education, and finally a Master's Degree in Community Regional Planning from Iowa State University. Fred was a member of the United States Army serving in Europe and Germany during the cold war era. He was stationed there with Jacque in Castle Germany. He returned to the United States in 1961 where he was employed as a US Postal carrier, shipping clerk for Frisco Seaboard Coastline in Chicago, material clerk at International Mineral Corporation, purchasing agent/salesman for Amsco-Union Oil Company in Palatine, IL; an Art and Manufacturing teacher in the Naperville, IL school district and an art teacher in the Washington, IA school district, and finally ended with being a Human Resources Director with the Good Samaritan Society in Keosauqua and Ottumwa, IA locations. In the early 70's Fred and Jacque moved from the suburban Chicago area to Libertyville, IA to raise his family on the family farm. While on the farm it was never short of an adventure. Many experiences were sought through having a dairy farm, numerous farm animals, raising crops, and learning the love of the land. As a family man and father, he was always involved in some sort of adventure providing sound advice and well-grounded wisdom. He was granted the gift of gab. Fred was no stranger to any conversation. Later working in the long-term care center, he took a calling to help the elderly, became a certified minister, and would often deliver sermons that were certainly spiritually connected with convocations which never failed to uplift and inspire others that were in attendance. Staff and residents alike, always felt spiritually supported with Fred's involvement in religious services. In retrospect of his life, he certainly was enriched by his wealth of life experiences and exemplified what it is to be in pursuit of happiness. Fred leaves two brothers, Phillip and (Janet--deceased) of Leon, IA; and Donald and (Janet) of Des Moines, IA. He and Jacque were blessed with four children, Kris and (Bethani) of Fairfield; Kent and (Susan) of Mount Pleasant, Kara and (George) Metcalf-Poulos of Mahomet, IL, and Karl and (Morae) of Birmingham, IA. He also has nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren., and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents Carl and Reva Metcalf.