Fred Caruthers

Fred T. Caruthers Jr., 83, of Lacona, passed away peacefully at his home on February 15, 2026, surrounded by the love and care of his family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Sedalia, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

On March 16, 1942, Fred Caruthers Jr. was born to Fred and Julia Rose

(Pazzi) Caruthers in Norwalk, Iowa. He attended Norwalk High School and graduated with the Class of 1959.

Fred married Linda Guiberson and was blessed with two children, a daughter, Dawn, and a son, Keri. After the two split, Fred met his soulmate and best friend, Kimberly Hunter-Roberts. They were married on March 16, 2005, and enjoyed many wonderful times and adventures together for over 20 years. Through their loving relationship, Fred gained two more children, Billy and Aaron, whom he cherished as his own.

Growing up on a farm taught Fred the value of hard work and a strong work ethic, lessons that guided him throughout his life. After high school, he worked for Paxton Lumber and later became Vice President of Mid-America Group. Fred went on to become President of Centennial Warehouse and played an important role in establishing the Foreign Trade Zone in Iowa.

Fred also had a true gift for building. He remodeled and built several homes in Des Moines and surrounding communities, at Sun Valley Lake, and in Missouri. Later, alongside Aaron, he owned and operated Caruthers Custom Cabinets in Sedalia, Missouri, retiring in 2017.

A generous and giving man, Fred donated both time and materials during the floods of '93 and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Des Moines and that giving spirit continued throughout his life. Fred truly never met a stranger. He could talk to anyone, tell it like it was, and could win any argument with his diplomatic skills. Over the years, he became a teacher and mentor to many young men, passing on skills, trades, and the importance of honest hard work.

Those left to cherish Fred's memory include his soulmate, Kim; his children Dawn (Craig) Allison of Waukee, IA, Keri (Jan) Caruthers of West Des Moines, IA, Billy (Alicia) Roberts of Albuquerque, NM, and Aaron (Missy) Roberts of Syracuse, MO; his sisters, Marjorie Hahn of Sterling Heights, MI, and Shirley Valestin of Norwalk, IA; and eight grandchildren: Mariah (Al) Wellman, Ally (Jarrett) De Fields, Briggs Caruthers, Brandt Caruthers, Christine (Devin) Thoennes, Ashley Williams, Piper Roberts, and Phillip Roberts; six great-grandchildren: Georgia, Jack, Jasper, Logan, Xander, and Tobias and many other extended family members and friends.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Julia Caruthers, his brother, Jim Caruthers, an infant granddaughter, Jayden Caruthers, and an infant great-granddaughter, Serenity.