Charles "Chuck" Frederick Calhoun

Charles "Chuck" F. Calhoun, a lifelong resident of Geneseo, 85, passed away on March 27, 2022, at Hammond Henry Hospital, Long Term Care Facility.  A funeral service will be held at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.  Reverend Monica Corsaro will officiate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022, at the funeral home.  Memorials can be made to the Charles Calhoun Memorial Fund, to be distributed between the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (Iowa City, Iowa), American Cancer Society and others.

Chuck was born in Geneseo, Illinois, to S. Fred Calhoun, and Marjorie Clark Calhoun on April 22, 1936, and was the youngest of three (3) children.  He spent his high school years as a wrestler, and a football player, and, as he put it, "having fun", and graduated in 1954.  Thereafter, he attended Augustana College for a short time.  Deciding that he would rather serve his Country, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves.  Being a "jarhead" Marine was one of his proudest accomplishments.  On November 17, 1957, he married Janice Mortonson, at Ebenezer Church.  In October 1969 they were blessed with their only child and daughter, Karen.  

Chuck started and ended his career with the Rock Island Arsenal, first starting in research and development of weaponry, which he loved, and in later years, passing that love on to his grandson, Nick.  During these years and following somewhat in his father's footsteps (Former Mayor S. Fred Calhoun), Chuck was active in Geneseo politics, serving on various boards, and as Chairman of both the Zoning Appeals Board and the Water and Sewer Board.  Chuck was also a member of Grace United Methodist Church and served on various boards and committees over the years.

After 38 years at the Arsenal, Chuck retired.  Not being one to sit still for very long, he always kept himself busy with various projects, as well as working for his dear friend, Ray Wirth, at Wirth Plumbing & Heating, as well as J.F. Edwards Construction in various capacities, both in the shop or on/over the road, and in later years, at the Edwards Farm, where he quickly became friends with the wildlife that lived there, especially the buffalo.  He loved gardening, and passed that love on to his granddaughter, Erin.  He was most proud of his tomatoes and his zucchinis.  If you ever stopped by his home during the summer months, you would be sure to leave with whatever vegetables he had picked that day, whether you wanted them or not.  On any given day, whether it be sun, rain or shine, you could find him and his friends at the Geneseo Donut Shop in the early morning hours, usually well before the Shop opened to the public, drinking coffee and sometimes waiting on customers.  But always commenting on the world events, or just ribbing each other and those that came in, simply for the fun of it.   Even toward the end, Chuck was known to have donuts delivered to him while in Long Term Care.  Big thanks to Bill from Geneseo Donut for indulging him.  

Chuck is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Janice O. Calhoun, his daughter, Karen M. Balzer (Matt Balzer) of Pleasant Valley, Iowa, and his grandchildren, Nick Balzer (Nicci Balzer) of Colona, Illinois, and Erin Balzer of Pleasant Valley, Iowa; as well as his nieces and nephews, Sue Cranmer and Benjamin Allen, Robert Riggle, Steve Mortonson, Deb Mortonson, and Diane Rogers, and a great nephew, Erik Taylor. And last but not least, he is survived by his loving, and very spoiled bulldog, LuLu, whom he would often introduce to everyone as "Karen's sister".

He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his 2 sisters, Ruth Riggle and Lois Fowler, and his niece, Diane Taylor. 

The family would like to extend their special thanks to the nurses at Hammond Henry Hospital Long Term Care, for the truly wonderful care shown to him during the last few months of his amazing life.  Although Chuck fought cancer for well over a quarter of a century, his positive attitude and love for life never wavered, and he became an inspiration to many.  

If you knew Chuck, you knew that he always had an answer for everything (right or wrong), made you laugh until you were crying, embarrassed or mad as a hatter, and his quick wit and comments never faltered.  He will be missed forever, and his family believes that Heaven is a little bit more fun now.