Frank E. (Mike) Clucas, A Long and Fruitful Life

Frank E. (Mike) Clucas, age 91, passed away on January 4, 2026, doing what he loved, feeding his horses. He was reunited with his beloved wife of nearly 55 years, Lorraine Tiemann Clucas, who preceded him in 2010.

Mike was born in Peoria, Illinois on September 24, 1934. He had a dry wit, quiet humor, and an incredible remembrance for rural Illinois history, and loved to make his family and friends laugh. He thought that he had lived during the best of times for agriculture in a rural community. Mike fondly referred to Galva, Illinois as "Paradise."

Always a farmer by heart, Mike started showing cattle as a child with his sister, Muriel. By his teenage years he was traveling statewide and then nationally showing champion Shorthorn and Black Angus cattle for himself and for others. He worked tirelessly to make sure the animals shined in the eyes of the judges. As a young married adult, he farmed and raised livestock near Galva. Mike was named "Outstanding Young Farmer of Illinois" at the age of 30. In his mid-30s Mike worked in commodity futures and then opened Clucas Trading Company to hedge crops, livestock, and currencies.

After his beautiful wife, Lorraine, and his family, Mike’s greatest passion was Standardbred horses. He was a long-standing Member of the United States Trotting Association (USTA). The USTA awarded Mike "Breeder of the Year" for Illinois twice. If you drove by his horse barn in Galva, Illinois you would see his new foals each spring. His favorite and most successful horse was Anna Crombie, whose lineage continued through much of his breeding stock. Mike was very proud to have named many of his horses after his grandchildren.

Mike was deeply committed to his community. He served as Board Chairman of the Lafayette School District; Chair of the Building Committee for St. John's Catholic Church in Galva; and was honored to be the oldest living member of St John's who was baptized there as an infant.

Mike is survived by his children: Colleen Clucas Wilcox (William), Cathleen Clucas (Mark d. 2025), and Michael J. Clucas (Jacqueline). He is survived by four grandchildren: Whitney Wilcox Camp (Joshua), Grace Clucas, Cal Clucas and Audrey Clucas; and two great grandchildren William Trumbull Camp (Trumbull) and Marilyn Cathleen Camp (Mary Cate). He also leaves a large extended family of a brother-in law, a sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews, whom he loved very much. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were his greatest pride and joy. He rarely missed a sporting event where his children or grandchildren participated. Mike had two lifelong friends associated with horses, Dr. William Hunter (d) and Jeff Jones. In addition to his wife Lorraine and his parents, Frank E. and Eileen Clucas, he is preceded in death by his sister, Muriel Ericson.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mike will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 17 at St. John's Catholic Church in Galva, Illinois. Celebrant will be Msgr. Michael Bliss. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 9:00 a.m., followed by visitation from 9:30 am until the time of the services at the church. Following Mass will be a brief ceremony at the Galva Cemetery followed by a luncheon given by the Altar and Rosary Society at the St. John's Church Hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Mike Clucas’ name to either the Galva Arts Council - Levitt Music Series, 311 NW 4th Avenue, Galva, IL 61434; or to Galva Manx Society, 3802 Midland Road, Kewanee, IL 61443.