Charles C. Boelens

Charles “Chuck” C. Boelens, 83, of Coal Valley, formerly of Atkinson, passed away on January 19, 2019, at Genesis Senior Living in Aledo, IL. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Atkinson. Father S. Stephen Engelbrecht will officiate. Burial will be at St. Anthony’S Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 25, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson Chapel, where the Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 pm, prior to the visitation. Memorials may be directed to the Charles Boelens Memorial Fund.

Chuck was born on March 13, 1935, the son of Peter and Madeline (DeVos) Boelens, in Annawan, IL. He graduated from Geneseo High School with the class of 1953. Chuck married Carol VanDeWoestyne on March 2, 1957 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Atkinson, IL. He was a lifetime cattle producer and grain farmer in Cornwall Township. Following his retirement from farming, he and Carol moved to Coal Valley. Chuck was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and the Henry County Farm Bureau. Always kind, humble, and patient, he was a wonderful example of how to live and treat others. Chuck loved spending time with his family, especially attending his grandchildren’s athletic events. He looked forward to the annual fishing trip to Anchor Inn in Minnesota. He enjoyed wildlife, gardening, woodworking and traveling.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Carol, daughter Cindy (Ken) Tatge of Rockton, IL and son Gary (Julene) Boelens of Aledo, IL. His seven grandchildren are: Dakota, Sidney, Maris, and Carson Boelens, Anthony Ruggles, Alyssa and Alana Tatge. Chuck is also survived by his brother Peter (Linda) Boelens, sister Judy Wahl and brother-in-law Bruce (Susan) Porch, all of Geneseo.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Margaret Porch and a brother Robert Boelens.