Charles Gernant

Charles “Chuck” Gernant, 81, of Geneseo, went to be with the Lord on April 21, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island. In accordance with his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at First Methodist Church, Geneseo.  Pastor Robert Freeman will officiate.  Inurnment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.  A memorial visitation will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Memorials may be directed to First Methodist Backpack Ministry and the Geneseo High School FFA Trap Shooting Team.

Chuck was born on March 7, 1942, in Geneseo, IL, the son of Lawrence and Opal Gernant. He entered marriage with Tamara Sue Wagle, daughter of William and Mary Ellen Wagle, on March 4, 1959. They shared 64 loving years together and three beautiful kids. Chuck worked at John Deere Harvester for 35 years. He held many positions at John Deere and retired as a Module Leader. During his time at Deere, he was an avid Fast Pitch softball player, playing for 26 years, spending weekends playing tournaments or hunting. Chuck retired from Deere on Dec 31, 1999. He began golfing more, bowling on Thursday nights and shooting sporting clays. If you ever wanted to know where Chuck was on Tuesdays, you would find him at Bi-State Gun Club, shooting sporting clay and just hanging with his “boys”.  Chuck was one of the proudest and most supportive grandfathers and great-grandfathers one will ever know. You could always count on him to play ball in the backyard with the kids, go to a pickup game if the grandkids suggested one, or he would be at whatever sporting event they had. He was always behind the camera at family gatherings, videoing memories. He would sit down and watch a game with you, or he would be out there teaching you how to play whatever sport you asked him to help you with.

Chuck is survived by his loving wife Tamara; his kids, Deborah (Rodger) Hopkey of Atkinson, Richard (Rebecca) Gernant of West Des Moines, and Christine (Mark) Clementz of Geneseo; 12 grandkids; and 17 great-grandkids.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Opal Gernant; sisters, Lucille and Phyllis; and brother, William.