Fred Clatfelter

Fred Clatfelter, 78, of West York, IL, passed away on February 21, 2023, surrounded by his family in the comfort of his home. He was born September 15, 1944, in rural Marshall, IL, the son of Harold & Florence (Davidson) Clatfelter, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two children in infancy; by his brother, John Clatfelter; and by his sister & brother-in-law, Jonel & Jack Webster.

He married Dixie Kibler on June 14, 1968, and she survives. He is also survived by his daughter, Molly Clatfelter (Carmel, IN); by his siblings, Hal & Linda Clatfelter and Zelpha Clatfelter; by his dear nieces & nephews, Jeanae & Greg Roberts, John & Barb Webster, Maggie & Paul Liffick, and Ann & Matthew Mattis; by several special great-nieces and great-nephews; by his brother-in-law, Danny Kibler; and by a special neighbor whom he considered to be a grandson, Jeff Frost.

Fred grew up on the family farm in Melrose Township, where he was instilled with the exceptional work ethic that drove much of his life's success. A 1962 graduate of Hutsonville High School, he briefly studied at Eastern Illinois University before coming back home to work on the farm. Under his guiding hand, the farm flourished, and the same could be said regarding the rest of Fred's endeavors. His time with the Hutsonville School Board bore witness to this, as his guidance and leadership played no small part in the school's thriving during his near-30-year tenure. He also played a part in improving his community through his work as the Melrose Township Supervisor, a title he held for seven years. His good work wasn't limited to the surrounding area but to the State of Illinois as a whole. He worked as the campaign manager for his good friend, Roger Eddy, who then won a seat as a state representative in 2003. For the next ten years, Fred worked tirelessly as his legislative assistant, and we know that this particular season of his life will continue to bear fruit for generations to come.

Time at home found this old farmer doing what farmers do best: puttering. When Fred wasn't tending to his crops, he was tending to his yard, and when he wasn't tending to his yard, he was tending to his garden. His daughter, Molly, was a beneficiary of her dad's productive nature, even after she moved to Indiana. Every Mother's Day, he would come plant flowers to bring color and life to her home. But that was just Fred; he brought color to the world around him through his particular brand of orneriness and his God-given ability to make others laugh, and he brought life by contributing to the flourishing of institutions and, ultimately, people. His elemental desire was to make a difference, and there can be no doubt that he did just that. We are better because Fred Clatfelter lived; in his memory, may we rise and take up the good work he left unfinished.

A time of visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1st, at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 2nd, at the funeral home, with Pastor Nathan Allcorn officiating. For those unable to attend, a recording of the service will eventually be available at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream .

Burial will be in the Plymouth Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Ciara M. Frost Scholarship for Education (in care of the "Hutsonville Alumni Association") or the "Mount Olive Baptist Church". Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.