John E. Clute Sr.

PLATTSBURGH — John E. Clute Sr. passed away on June 7, 2009, at the age of 92.

John was born in Scotia, N.Y., in 1916. After completing high school, he worked briefly for General Electric and then joined the Social Security Administration shortly after it was created by Franklin Delanor Roosevelt. He opened the Social Security office in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He met Frances Haley while performing with the Plattsburgh Little Theater. They were married in 1942.

His career in Social Security was interrupted by World War II. He joined the Navy and was stationed in Joliet, Ill., where their sons, John Jr. and James were born. After a few years in New York City, the Clute family returned to Plattsburgh, where John resumed his position with Social Security and Frances began a career as a teacher. Their daughter, Marilyn, was born in Plattsburgh.

In the 1950s, the Clute family moved to Keeseville, where they purchased one of the old mansions built by the Kingsland family in the 1850s. John and Fran continued to work their "day jobs" while opening the Village Inn in their home. The Village Inn served meals and rented rooms for about four years. In addition, John worked part time as a radio announcer for WEAV and WIRY in the 1950s. He was known as "Farmer John" for his early morning broadcasts of farm-related news, although he was never a farmer.

John and Fran retired in the early 1970s, sold their home in Keeseville and moved to Dunedin, Fla., where they re-united with their friends from the North Country and made many new ones. They were fortunate to enjoy good health for many years and to have the opportunity to travel to many parts of the world. They returned to the North Country each summer.

In later years, age and health concerns caused them to return north. Fran passed away in 2006. John lived at Lake Forest and then Pine Harbour, where he passed away.

John is survived by his son, John Clute Jr. and daughter-in-law, Penelope; his son, James Clute and daughter-in-law, Marta, their children Sean and Lara; his daughter, Marilyn Clute, and her sons, Christopher, Erik and Andrew.

John will be buried next to Fran, his wife of 64 years, in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. The family extends its thanks to the staff of Pine Harbour, who cared for him and showed him great kindness in his final years.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. To light an online candle and offer condolences in the memory of John Clute, please visit www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com.