Cletus F. Deters, 85, of Sigel, died on Sunday March 30, 2014 at his home.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 4, 2014 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Sigel with burial in St. Michael Cemetery. A parish wake service will begin at 4:00 p.m. with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sigel St. Michael's School or the Sigel St. Michael Gym Fund. Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham is assisting the family with arrangements.

Clete was born on December 1, 1928 in Sigel, the son of Christian and Anna (Niemann) Deters. He met Nancy E. Baumgart while working at Catholic Charities in Chicago, they wed in 1964 and she survives.

Clete grew up in a large farming family. After high school, he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart seminary in Ohio, where he also learned to raise and care for apple trees. After being told that he would be better as a husband and father, he moved to Chicago. He and Nancy were social workers together for a number of years before marrying and moving to Sigel, where he put his apple growing talents to good use on a 1,500 tree apple orchard. Many groups of young children were invited out for tours of the orchard and free apples.

Clete was a loving family man and a tireless worker. He always thought of others before himself and made countless sacrifices for his family.

In his later years, Clete found great enjoyment in seeing what treasures could be found at estate sales. When he heard that there was a cement mixer for sale, Nancy asked him what on earth he would do with such a thing, he said "I always wanted one".

He is survived by his children Edward, Joseph, Matthew, Stephen, and Katherine; 6 grandchildren Eric, Laura, Meg, Jaclyn, Sophie and Sam; and sister, Margaret.

Clete was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Francis Cletus and his siblings Rosella, Louise, Edward, Leonard, Alphonse, Andrew, and Virgil.