Charles "Chuck" Cleary's Obituary
Oreana-Charles Cleary, 57 of Oreana, passed away Saturday, September 04, 2010 at Decatur Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family after a courageous five year battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian burial to celebrate Charles’ life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 08, 2010 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 3850 Lourdes Dr, with Fr. Rick Weltin, celebrant. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the mass at the church. Interment will be at a later date in Vienna, IL. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Care Foundation of Decatur. Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home is assisting family with arrangements. Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
Charles was born April, 20, 1953 in Peoria, the son of William T. and Lois (Magnuson) Cleary. Charles graduated from Macarthur High School in 1971. He started his railroading career with Illinois Central Railroad on April 10, 1973 working throughout Illinois as a trainman, conductor, and dispatcher and finally a locomotive engineer, retiring from the Canadian National Railroad in July of 2005. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Chuck was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing and boating. He married Susan A. Bradley on October 04, 1980 in Decatur, Illinois.
Charles leaves behind to cherish his memory wife Susan, son; Bradley of Chicago, daughter; Emily of Oreana, grandson; Lucas of Oreana, sister; Jana Sexton and husband Mike of Littleton, CO, brothers; Kevin and wife Kathi of Decatur, Greg and wife Leighia of Macon, Jim of Oakley, father and mother-in law Graham and Jeannette Bradley of Decatur, sisters-in-law; Karen Reeter and husband Steve of Bloomington, Cindy Holmes and husband Jeff of Forsyth, and Jenny Hopkins and husband Mike of Decatur, brother-in-law; Tom Bradley and wife Lisa of Land O Lakes, FL, and numerous nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Charles was greeted in Heaven by his parents and brother Tim.
Sue, Bradley, Emily, and family would like to thank Dr. Maria Perdekamp, Dr. Scott Sherwood, the wonderful nurses of Cancer Care and 5100 for their loving and tender care of Chuck through this long journey.
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