Sammuel Cluts

Sammuel Cluts was born on April 14, 1928 to John Samuel Cluts and Mary M (Thomas) Cluts in the small farming community of Panora, IA. He was the youngest of seven children and the only boy. Sam attended a one room school house until he went to high school in Redfield, IA.

It was in high school that Sam’s ability in math was noted and he was encouraged to attend college. In 1945, Sam enrolled at Iowa State University receiving a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949.

Also, in 1949, Sam married his high school sweetheart and lifelong love, Beverly A. Lamb and the two of them left Iowa for work in Indiana. Sam worked various jobs in engineering ultimately ending up at Sargent and Lundy Consulting Engineers in Chicago. Sam received his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1959.

Sam and Bev lived in Chicago until 1957 when they moved to Cary, IL. Sam and Bev had three children, Diane, Janet and Jonathan. In 1965, Sam and Bev moved to Trout Valley, IL.

In the 1970’s Sam became the head of the Sargent and Lundy Transmission and Substation Division. His department was responsible for designing much of the electrical grid in this country and overseas. Sam became a well-known expert in the field of power distribution, often appearing as an expert witness in court cases and in Public Service Commission hearings. He often appeared as a keynote speaker at large industry conferences. Even after he had retired, Sam was called to the C.I.A. Headquarters in Langley, VA to advise the C.I.A. on protecting the grid from attack after 9/11. He also appeared on local Chicago news channels as a technical expert on protecting the grid.

Sam retired in the 1990’s and he and Bev enjoyed camping and traveling abroad. Sam was a lifelong Cubs and Bears fan.

Sam is survived by his three children, Diane (James) Terrell, Janet (Michael) Levine, and Jonathan (Nancy) Cluts; and his two grandchildren, Nicholas Cluts and Kathryn (Nicholas) Clobes.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters; and his wife, Beverly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sam’s memory to The American Heart Association at www.heart.org or to a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 7:00 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave (Rt. 176) Crystal Lake, IL 60014. Burial will be held at East Linn Cemetery, Redfield, IA.