Charles H. "Chuck" Claeys

Charles H. “Chuck”  Claeys, 74, of Atkinson passed away Saturday, April 11, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family.  A Funeral Mass celebrating Chuck’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson, IL.  Rev. S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate.  Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery, Atkinson.   Visitation for Chuck will be held 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 14th, at Vandemore Funeral Home, Atkinson. A Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m.  Memorials may be left to the Chuck Claeys Memorial Fund.

Chuck was born September 12, 1940, in Geneseo, IL the son of Charles and Sophie (Verkruyse) Claeys.  He was a 1957 graduate of Atkinson High School and was united in marriage to Mary Helen Bulens on August 18, 1962, in Davenport, IA.    Chuck proudly served in the United States Navy on the USS Intrepid and worked for 25 years at International Harvester from which he retired.  He also proudly served twelve years as the Henry County Treasurer. 

Chuck was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson.  He was a former Atkinson Village Board Member, a Henry County Board Member, and past President of the Illinois County Treasurers Association.  Charles served as an IHSA official and volunteer coach.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Helen, sons, Matt (Debbie) Claeys, Lafayette, IN , Andy (Tracy) Claeys, Eden Prairie, MN, Joe (Amy) Claeys, Chaska, MN, Dave (Jen) Claeys, DeWitt, IA, and Luke (Christy) Claeys, Shawnee, KS; daughters, Ann (Ron) DeSmith, Atkinson, IL and Beth (Kurt) Roesner, Lake in the Hills, IL. Chuck has 18 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren,  and a sister, Helen Claeys, Geneseo. 

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marian Taber.

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