Cletus Constant Reed, 92, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at his home surrounded by family, music and spring breezes.
Private family services were held Monday, April 12, 2021, at St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Charles Fladung and Fr. Bernie Weir officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Jones & Eden Funeral Home Facebook page. Interment with military honors was held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Keota, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Washington County Fair Association, St. James Catholic School, St. James Catholic Church or Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Cletus’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com
Cletus was born May 1, 1928, near Richland, Iowa, the son of Walter and Margaret (Hammes) Reed. He attended grammar school in a one-room country school house, 76 Center, Keota. Cletus graduated in 1946 from Keota High School, where he was a charter member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA).
He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He enlisted in December, 1950, and served four years in Japan, Korea and Texas. A year after returning home, Cletus married Audrey Vittetoe on Nov. 12, 1955, at St. James Catholic Church in Washington.
In 1966, Cletus and Audrey bought a 235-acre farm southwest of Washington. From that initial farm, Cletus built a family business that to this day thrives and continues to grow under the guidance of his sons.
Over the years he collected many awards and recognitions for both soybean and corn production as well as soil conservation. He raised thousands of pigs and was always looking forward to stay ahead of the curve. His efforts to conserve and maintain the land on which he depended are part of his legacy.
Cletus was an active member of the St. James Catholic Church. He loved being a member of the choir and also served on the parish council. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and was a member of the Washington County Farm Bureau, Washington County Conservation Board and Washington County Pork, Corn and Soybean Producers for many years. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Disabled Veterans of America.
Cletus loved to read, and also wrote an autobiography of his early life with the help of his granddaughter, Meghan.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years: Audrey Reed of Washington; children: Paul (Leann) Reed of Washington, Judy (Clarke) Corcoran of Evergreen Park, Illinois, Jacque Reed (Rigo) of New Paltz, New York, Sarah (Don) Jirak of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Sandra Reed (John) of Huntington, West Virginia, Kevin (Jodi) Reed of Washington, and Ken (Aimee) Reed of Washington; siblings: Dan (Mary) Reed of South English, Edmund (Janice) Reed of Keota, James (Arbie) Reed of Washington, and Rose Ellen Stelton of Washington; and many loving grandchildren, great-grand
He was preceded in death by his parents; son: Nicholas L. Reed in 2008; grandson: Shawn Jirak in 2020; siblings: Eugene Reed, Hubert Reed and Joanne Luttenegger and husband Harold; and brother-in-law: Howard Stelton.
