Charles R. Casper

Charles R. Casper, age 69 years, a resident of rural Vienna for the past 10 years and a former resident of Mason County Illinois for 28 years, passed away Tuesday evening, September 22, 2015, at 5:26 PM at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Center at Lourdes in Paducah, Kentucky. Chuck was born July 20, 1946 in Anna, Illinois. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Charles Walter and Gladys Arlene (Bennett) Casper. On March 6, 1965, Chuck was united in marriage to Mary J. “Jeannie” Dunaway at Cobden, Illinois. She survives. Other survivors include: his daughter – Kay Elaine (Robert) Haslett of Pekin; 3 grandsons – Travis LeShane Casper, David Lee Haslett, and Robert Haslett II; 3 brothers – Kenneth Leon Casper of Peoria, Henry Wallace (Melba) Casper of Missouri, and Ronald (Judy) Casper of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; a sister – Luella Watkins of Benton; three generations of nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by his son – David Ray Casper in 1996 and a granddaughter – Kayla Dawn Casper in 2008. Chuck was a 1964 graduate of Cobden High School. He began his working career with Caterpillar, Inc. as a hand trucker in the Morton plant, where he was employed for 2 years. He then transferred to the East Peoria facility where he worked as an electrician’s helper and advanced to an industrial electrician. He retired on June 1, 1996 with 30 ½ years of service to the company. Chuck was a member of former Manito Masonic Lodge # 476 A.F. & A.M. He was of the Baptist faith. Chuck was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gold prospecting. He and Jeannie regularly attended auctions. Chuck was a Harley enthusiast and loved being on his motorcycle on the open road. He was also an amateur radio operator. His call sign was WB9WIY. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday evening, September 24, 2015, at 6 PM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Dr. Ed Hollis will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4 PM – 6 PM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. There will also be visitation from 11 AM – 12 Noon Saturday, September 26, 2015, at Henderson Funeral Home, 2131 Velde Drive, Pekin, Illinois 61554. A graveside service will immediately follow the visitation on Saturday and will be conducted at the Meadow Lawn Cemetery in Manito, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Center, c/o Lourdes Hospice, P.O. Box 7100, Paducah, Kentucky 42002 or to the Heather Harper Treat Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 98, Vienna, Illinois 62995. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna and Henderson Funeral Home in Pekin.

Charles R. Casper

July 20, 1946 - September 22, 2015