Obituary of Fred J. Brei

Fred J. Brei, age 80, passed away on March 19, 2023 in Ocala, Florida.  He was born September 26, 1942, to the late Helen Lee Brei and Fred J. Brei, Sr. in Ottawa, Illinois.  He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years after high school. His primary occupation was a builder/developer and he constructed homes in Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado and Texas.  His final project was Canterbury Place, a retirement community and skilled nursing home, in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  After selling Canterbury Fred and Jane moved to Savannah, Georgia, to begin their retirement, but after a year they realized that being in their 40's, they weren't ready for that.  So further south to Ocala, Fl., where they started Jacks or Better Farm, Inc.

Fred loved God, his family, the USA, and of course, his horses.  He was a competitive man, had a great sense of humor, liked various cars but they had to be speedy! He truly Lived, Loved and Laughed.  Every morning there was coffee, conversation and laughter.  Those times will be sorely missed.

Fred is survived by his wife, Jane; children Terri Brei of South Carolina, Charlene Goodman of Texas, Fred Brei, III and Lisa Brei of Illinois, Chris (Katie) Gabel and Liz (Keith) Wagner of Florida, brother Bradley (Doris) Brei, Sr., of Wyoming, sister, Wendy Young, of Oregon, and his 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

 in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the TRF Second Chances Program at the Lowell Correctional Institution.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services 910 SE Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, Florida 34470 on Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

Our wish is for a casual gathering for people to meet his family and share their memories.  Fred did not want a structured service, rather one where all could be themselves and visit, laugh or cry and go back to work or enjoy the day.