Frederick Brueck

Middleburgh- Frederick Linn Brueck, 79, of State Route 145, passed away on March 5, 2016, at his home after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Fred was born in Rochester on April 17, 1936, to Mildred (Linn) and Frederick Brueck .

His parents and his sister, Marilynn, predeceased him.

Fred grew up on a farm outside Rochester and after graduating from high school in 1954, he pursued a degree from Cornell University and a Master's degree from Colorado State University in agriculture.

After graduation from Cornell, he began a 33 year career with Cornell U as a county Cooperative Extension Agent and then a Regional Extension Specialist in field crops and dairy.

Fred and his partner, John "Jack" Adams, of Fonda, were the first dairy team for Cornell Cooperative Extension and were known as the "dynamic duo".
Fred, along with other agents, pre-recorded 5 minute farm information programs for WGY, which could be heard by local farmers EARLY in the morning.

Fred married Karen Hansen Sturm on August 2, 1980 at St. Joseph's Church in Schoharie. They had no children, but lots of sheep.

Among his hobbies were flower and veggie gardening, flying his Cessna 150, birdwatching and rock collecting. His biggest hobby was raising the sheep.

He started with a flock of 12 "old girls" which multiplied to over 100 each year after lambing. He never thought of it as work, but a grand and not-for-profit hobby.

He loved his cats too and he loved to travel. In 1968, Fred went on a Dow Study Scholarship Tour through 9 states and in 1972 he participated in a people-to-people tour, in the Soviet Union, meeting with his dairy counterparts.

He and Karen traveled extensively throughout the world including most of Europe, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. His most favorite trips were the two they took to Kenya, Africa on camera safaris looking for the elusive reticulated aardvark.

Fred is survived by his wife Karen Brueck of Cobleskill and many friends.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1pm on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Washington Ave, Cobleskill with Fr. James Donlon as celebrant. A period of visitation will be held from 11am-1pm, at the church, prior to the Mass. All are invited to a reception, following the Mass, at Justine's Restaurant, Main St., Cobleskill. Spring inurnment will be at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catskilll Area Hospice and Palliative Care Inc., 125 Granite Drive, Suite 1, Cobleskill, NY 12043 or to the Leatherstocking Region Office for Alzheimer's, 140 Highway 33 West, Suite 2, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, Cobleskill and the Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, Middleburgh.