Charles W. "Chuck" 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, IL, to Francis J. and Clara E. Merseal Guenther.  He and Geraldine A. “Gerry” Fricke were married January 19, 1952, in Granite City, IL.  Five children were born to their union, and they had been married 62 years when Gerry passed away October 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.  In 1972, he received a bachelor’s degree  in law from LaSalle Extention University in Chicago.  In 1977, the Guenther’s moved to Jackson and Chuck worked over 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, Illinois.

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, Illinois, Christine (Gary) Petzoldt and Janet (Timothy) Davis of Jackson, 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, Hannah Petzoldt, Brian Shultz, 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 of Granite City, Raymond (Lucille) Guenther of Granite City, John (Glenda) Guenther of DeSoto, Missouri, 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; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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

Visitation is Friday, May 11, 2018, from 4 to 7:30 p.m., 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 Saturday, May 12, 2018, from 9 a.m. to service time, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be Saturday, May 12, 2018, at 10 a.m., at the church, with the Rev. Joshua Schmidt officiating.

A private committal service will be held at Mueller Hill Cemetery near Pinckneyville, Illinois. 

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

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