He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1959 and from William Penn College in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. He taught government, economics and psychology at Sigourney High School from 1971 until his retirement in May 2004. He was a member of NEA, ISEA, Keokuk County Retired Teacher's Association, a lifetime member of the NRA, a member of Powekshiek County Sportmen's Club, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited and IKES. He took stats for the Sigourney/Keota football team for 32 years, and was an instructor for Hunter Education for 30 years. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts for many years. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, hunting, fishing, writing, photography, poetry, spending time outdoors, traveling, reading, being in the mountains and competing in high power rifle matches.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter Lyn (Jim) Moes of Kansas City, Mo.; a son Brent (Tami) Gilliland of Sigourney; a granddaughter Emma Gilliland of Sigourney; a sister June Henry of Sigourney; two brothers AI and Gary Gilliland both of Ottumwa; several nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sigourney Junior-Senior High School with Rev. Kate Stangl officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Ottumwa. Military services will be conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. today at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa with the family present from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established memorials to the Fred Gilliland Scholarship Fund or to the Sigourney Public Library.