Clifford "Buck" W. Stout Jr.

Freeport – Clifford W. (Buck) Stout Jr of Freeport died on 10/15/23. He was born on 06/25/30 in Freeport to Clifford (Sonny) Stout Sr. and Margaret (Knodle) Stout. He married Jean A. Schweitzer on Christmas Eve in 1951 while on leave from the Army. Jean passed away on 09/09/11 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Except for Buck’s two years in the U.S. Army, he and Jean spent their entire lives living and working in Freeport.

A graduate of Freeport High School, Buck excelled in Basketball, Football and Track. After making a half-court shot in the final seconds to win the Centralia Holiday Tournament, Buck was voted MVP of the tournament. The highlight of his high school athletic accomplishments would come many years later when the Freeport Pretzel Fan Club awarded Buck the prestigious Glenn “Pat” Holmes Award for athletic achievement. Also, while in high school, Buck was nominated to represent Freeport High in the American Legion’s Boys State. While at Boy’s State, he was elected the State of Illinois “Governor For The Day” and subsequently went to Washington D.C. where he personally met with the President of the United States, Harry Truman.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Buck worked at Micro Switch for five years before he was recruited into banking. He spent a total of twelve years in the banking business before making a career change into insurance. He purchased the Art Cordes Insurance Agency in 1971 and started to grow the small insurance agency into a thriving successful multi-line agency. He retired from the insurance business in 2003 to care for his ailing wife after selling the agency to his son, Jim, in 1995.

Buck was a very kind, loving, compassionate and giving person. He served on the Salvation Army Board of Directors; was the Stephenson County Chairman for the Annual Cancer Drive; served as president and board member at Bethany United Church of Christ where he was instrumental in building the current church building at 2341 W. Stephenson St., Freeport. In his free time, Buck enjoyed the companionship of good friends while playing golf at the Park Hills Golf Course.

Buck is survived by his daughter, Bonnie J. (Tim) Homan of Rockford, IL, his son, Timothy J. Stout of Aiea, Hawaii, and his son James D. (Tina) Stout, of Freeport, IL. His granddaughters, Melissa (Ray) Scotti of Ridott, IL, Kristin Remmers RN of Normal, IL., Jenna Krahmer of Madison, WI and Jessica (Tim) Wadium of La Crosse, WI., and his special friend, Betty Fenton of Freeport, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife (Jean), sister, Sally Penticoff, and infant brother, Milton Stout.

Funeral arrangements have been made with Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. Visitation will be on 10/20/23 from 4-7pm and at 10am on 10/21/23 with the funeral following at 11am., all at Bethany United Church of Christ, 2341 W. Stephenson St., Freeport, IL

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that any donations be made to the FHN Foundation, Freeport Parks Foundation/Park Hills Golf Course, or the Friends Forever Humane Society.