Charles Guenther

Charles W. "Chuck" Guenther, 89, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

In recent months, he resided at Jackson Manor Nursing Home.

Chuck was born May 17, 1928, in Granite City, Illinois, to Francis J. and Clara E. Merseal Guenther. He and Geraldine A. "Gerry" Fricke were married Jan. 19, 1952, in Granite City. Five children were born to their union, and they had been married 62 years when Gerry passed away Oct. 6, 2014.

Chuck served honorably in the U.S. Air Force and returned to southern Illinois, working at the former U.S. Army Supply Depot in Granite City and the former Stolze Lumber Co. in Belleville, Illinois. In 1972, he received a bachelor's degree in law from LaSalle Extention University in Chicago. In 1977, the Guenthers moved to Jackson, and Chuck worked more than 25 years for Drury Co. in Cape Girardeau.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158, both in Jackson, and was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville.

Chuck liked to play golf, travel and camp, but he especially enjoyed square-dancing. He was a member and caller of the Cape County Swingers Square Dance Club and was also a square-dance instructor. In 2003, he was inducted into the Caller Hall of Fame.

Loving survivors include five children, Deborah Guenther and Gregory (Nancy) Guenther of Belleville, Christine (Gary) Petzoldt and Janet (Timothy) Davis of Jackson and Mary Shultz and husband JR Pyles of Qulin, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Michael Guenther and wife Rachel Daugherty of Villa Park, Illinois, Kara (Joseph) Monfre of Lebanon, Illinois, Cheryl (Jonathan) Beasley of Ames, Iowa, Sarah Trotter of Jackson, Daniel Shultz of Centennial, Colorado, and Hannah Petzoldt, Brian Shultz and Adam and Eric Davis all of Jackson; 10 great-grandchildren, Cynthia, Dalton, Austin, Taylor, Lani, Dylan, Corbin, Abigail, Alexis and Logan; four siblings, Delorus (Fred) Cavins and Raymond (Lucille) Guenther, both of Granite City, John (Glenda) Guenther of DeSoto, Missouri, and Howard (the late Marilyn) Guenther of Wood River, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Ann (Ray) Steckenrider of Raleigh, North Carolina; a brother-in-law, M. Richard (the late Wanda) Wheeler of Pickneyville, Illinois; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Brandy (Trotter) Jacobs; and eight siblings, Hazel M. (Raymond) Cliff, Morgan Guenther, Virginia Guenther, Francis Guenther Jr., Shirley Guenther, Donald Guenther, Larry Guenther and Joyce (Tony) Germanceri.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. There will be an American Legion Honor Guard Service at 7:30 p.m..

Visitation will continue from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Joshua Schmidt officiating. A private committal service will be held at Mueller Hill Cemetery near Pinckneyville.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church or School in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.