Fred Tarry Creech, age 81, of Evansville, passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, at River Pointe Health Campus surrounded by his family.

Fred was born on September 16, 1928, in Dayton, Ohio. He moved to Evansville at the age of six and attended Hebron School. He graduated from Bosse High School in 1947, where he ran track and played varsity football. Fred graduated from Evansville College in 1951, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and was a member of Phi Zeta fraternity. He was one of the first two male servers at the College Corner, a popular soda shop, and was later employed at Sears Roebuck and Servel which later became Arkla Industries. He served as vice president of Arkla Industries from which he retired in 1983. After retirement, Fred was a broker for Raffensperger, Hughes and Company Inc., and was vice president of Southern Indiana Properties Inc., an investment division of SIGECO, retiring in 1994. Fred also owned and operated FTC Consulting. He served on the boards of the Evansville Association for the Blind and the Catholic Education Foundation and actively supported the Little Sisters of the Poor. Fred was a member of the Jaycees, Junior Achievement, and the Evansville Economic Development Commission, as well as on the board of directors of Arkla Industries and Evansville Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Fred was an avid sports fan, golfer, card player and "frustrated fisherman".

Fred officially met the love of his life, Joan (Hayes) while both attended Evansville College. He remembered her from high school when Joan and her friends went for ice cream at the College Corner and played in the lake at Atkinson Park. Together, they raised and cherished 11 children, 31 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren, with a tenth great-grandchild expected this summer. Fred and Joan enjoyed Big Band music, dancing, playing cards, and spending time together.

Fred was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

He coached his children's soccer and Little League teams and was immensely proud of his family. Whether his children were in the classroom, in the office, on the field, or on the stage, Fred always supported his children and grandchildren as they pursued their passions and followed their dreams, instilling his values into his children.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Joan Charlotte (Hayes); daughters, Rebecca Nimnicht and husband, Bill, Lizbeth Creech and husband, Jim Hicks, Mary Crum and husband, Rex, Sarah Vieth and husband, Bill Jr. and Joan Fredrich and husband, Greg; sons, Fred Creech and Kevin Laws, Michael and Sue (Frohbeiter) Creech, Pat and Martha (Yoe) Creech, David Creech, John and Susan (Knott) Creech and Stephen and Chrissy (Hall) Creech; 31 grandchildren, Eric, Katy and Brian Nimnicht, Elizabeth Abaray and husband, Damon, Anne Vonderahe and husband, Keith, Amy Sheeley and husband, Jason, Patrick Dempsey and wife, Johnna, George Creech and wife, Lori, John and Julie Creech, Sarah Beth Howard and husband, Adam, Jacob Crum and wife, Erica, Becca and Leah Crum, Fred, Sam, Joe, Daniel and Molly Creech, Henry and Angus Creech, Tyler, Michael, Jack and Shawn Vieth; Charlotte and Adelaide Fredrich; and David, Adam, Max, and Eli Creech; 8 great-grandchildren, Andrew Nimnicht, Collin, Audrey and Aidan Vonderahe, Sadie Sheeley, Madelyn and Natalie Dempsey, and Sophia Creech.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred T. Creech Sr., and Gladys Marie (Burbank); and his great-granddaughter, McKinley Crum.

Visitation will be on Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Ziemer Funeral Home, 800 S. Hebron, where a memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral services will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2010, at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, and continued at 9 a.m. at St. Benedict Cathedral, 1328 Lincoln Avenue. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. James Hambidge and the staff at River Pointe Health Campus for their compassionate, loving care of Fred and the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Benedict School, 530 S. Harlan Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714; (Reitz) Memorial High School, 1500 E. Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714; Little Sisters of the Poor, 1236 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714; or Catholic Education Foundation, Holy Cross Hall, 520 S. Bennighof, Evansville, IN 47714.

January 28, 2010
Mike, my condolences. Enjoyed seeing you and your father 2 years ago at annual meetings.
A. Kent Best

January 28, 2010
Joan: we were so saddened to hear of Fred’s passing. Jack first met Fred in 1964 when we moved to Evansville to start the junior achievement program. His help was always appreciated. We are sorry that distance prohibits our being there to deliver our condolences in person but our thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Jack & Joanne Chaddock, Venice, Florida

January 28, 2010
I went to Wabash with Fred Jr, worked at Arkla for Fred Sr. He was a classy guy, my condolences to Fred and family.
Jim Claybourn

January 28, 2010
Joan, Greg, Sarah, Bill, my condolences on your loss. Your family is in my prayers.
Jane Brickner Small, Evansville, Indiana

January 28, 2010
Stephen, and family. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
Amy Creech-Spindler, Fifth Third Bank, Evansville, Indiana

January 28, 2010
Joan: Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family at this time. Mary Lou will call when she returns from Florida.
Mary Lou Claybaugh, Evansville, Indiana