- Date Of Birth: September 10, 1949
- Date Of Death: July 9, 2022
- State: Indiana
Fred Gillean
LYDICK – September 10, 1949 – July 9, 2022
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The story begins in the Arkansas Delta in a town named Tuckerman. He was born into poverty to cotton sharecroppers on tenanted land. Fred’s habit of overcoming the odds of life began instantly. For Fred to survive, his family needed to find a way to pay for a rare formula. His father Jack was forced to give up the vice of smoking to keep his son alive.
Life wasn’t easy for the Gillean family. There wasn’t much money or food, and jobs were drying up. The family was forced out of their home and they discovered that Bendix was hiring. Responsibility found Fred at a very early age as the eldest son of eight children.
To help the family at the age of 11, Fred found work at a farm in Lydick. His first taste at independence was a taste that never spoiled. He didn’t like when you told him what to do, and he would likely do the opposite. People would tell you that Freddy was a rebel — Fred would disagree with you simply to disagree. In his youth, he was a wild man who loved rock ‘n’ roll and fun times.
That all changed on the night of New Years’ Eve, 1963, when a pretty blonde girl named Linda Hamann pulled up in an old black Plymouth station wagon with a white top. He was starstruck, telling everybody that listened until the end of his life, what she was wearing that night and the song that was playing the moment he first saw her. The woman became the love of his life five years later in a marriage that produced two children, Lisa and Jack.
Hard-working is an understatement when describing Fred Gillean. In fact, there might not be a word in the English language to describe how hard he worked. He provided for his family, friends and complete strangers as a proud plumber. In later years, he worked for Edward J. White Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning as a member of Local 172.
Fred’s love of family was showcased by his devotion to his beautiful wife of 54 years, Linda Gillean. Linda was his soulmate from their first date to the final minute. Fred and Linda together never knew boring. From traveling all 50 states to the Caribbean Islands to dog sledding in Alaska to flying in a helicopter over a volcano, they squeezed more years into life than anyone ever expected them to. Fred and Linda’s dedication to family is most personified by the construction of a pool with the foresight of knowing that generations of children, grandchildren and beyond would make it their summer ritual to spend time in the presence of their unyielding love. Though Fred’s journey on this earth has concluded, this is just the beginning of their shared love for all eternity.
Everything was a song to Fred — from the song that played when he first laid eyes on his future bride to his final day, music characterized Fred’s life. From the early Beatles to Elvis Presley to Country and Western, it seemed he knew every lyric to every song. An accomplished and classically trained acoustic guitar player, Fred would break out into song in the middle of a conversation and brighten the day of those around him.
Brightening the day of those around him was one of Fred’s best qualities. Seen and unseen, credited and uncredited Fred changed the lives of countless people. From providing plumbing and electricity work for people who couldn’t afford it to delivering Meals on Wheels to folks unable to leave their homes (something Fred did up until he no longer had the strength to do deliveries himself) Fred always put the well-being and comfort of others before his own. He led a life that you wouldn’t believe, and did unbelievable things for people who never thought another person cared about them. Fred would listen to you when you weren’t listening to yourself.
Even in death, Fred Gillean went out on his own terms, he did his way. A life well lived, never soon to be forgotten by his countless family and friends who were all present as he passed peacefully from this life and begin his next one reunited with his beloved grandson Kary.
We hope that this small tribute provides you a glimpse of the great man who just passed and inspires you to live the life you are more than capable of leading, so as long as you put others first, be generous, make memories and love entirely.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Lucille Gillean, Grandson, Kary Young, one brother, Morris Gillean. Survivors include his beloved wife, Linda Gillean; his children Lisa Young Keigley (Kregg) of New Carlisle, Indiana Jack (Karen) Gillean of South Bend, Indiana; his grandchildren Tyler Gillean, Mollie Thompson (Dewey), Kal Young, Kade Young, Kyra Young, Kenna Young, Kannon Keigley (Tiffany), Kymra Priebe (Andrew); his sisters Linda Barnes, Martha Daniels (Jim), Wilma Gillean, Debra Gillean; his brothers Gary Gillean (Marcia) and Ron Gillean (Tammy Dolezal); great grandchildren Dewey Jack Thompson, Sadie Thompson, Quinn Priebe, Trace Priebe, Kaycen Priebe, Kooper Keigley, Krew Keigley; sister in law, Karla Gillean, brother in law, Richard Blake and many nieces and nephews.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16.
