Charles J. Zemaitis' Obituary
Charles J. Chuck Zemaitis, 65, of Decatur, retired from Illinois Power Company since 1996, went to meet his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 2, 2005.
Visitation and celebration of his life will be held on Friday, March 4, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Moran and Goebel Funeral Home, 2801 N Monroe Street, Decatur, with a 4:30pm prayer vigil. A funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Father Rick Weltin, at 10am on Saturday, March 5 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Interment will be at Boiling Springs Cemetery, on the outskirts of Decatur.
Chuck was born on September 11, 1939, in Mendota, Illinois, to Charles A. and Ruth Margaret Conrad Zemaitis. He lived in Wedron, Illinois, all of his boyhood years. He attended Wedron Grade School, Ottawa Township High School, and LaSalle-Peru -Oglesby Junior College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois in Industrial Arts. He joined Illinois Power in 1963.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rose Mary Krolak, formerly of Peru, Illinois, four children, and six grandchildren: son David and wife Julie Bowman and their son Michael of Decatur; son John and wife Kathleen Niemietz, their daughter Morgan and son Evan of Charlotte, NC; daughter Alice and husband Jeff Brownfield of Champaign, IL; and daughter Jennifer and husband Matt Holtzscher, their daughter Katie, and sons Ryan and Adam of Prattville, AL. Chuck is also survived by a sister, Rose Marie Zwanzig, and brother Richard and wife Nancy Zemaitis, both of Ottawa, IL, 5 nieces and 5 nephews, 4 grandnieces and 7 grandnephews, and three godsons, Colby Zemaitis, Dan Vogt and Michael Zemaitis. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Chuck enjoyed many interests including fishing, golf with his buddies, traveling with his wife Rosie, genealogy, his computer, and Illini sports. His grandchildren were the joy of his and Rosie's life.
The family would like to thank Dr. Esparaz, Dr. Elliott, Dr. DiMondo, the caring staff of Cancer Care, and the dedicated and caring nurses at Decatur Memorial Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit.
In lieu of flowers, friends may support the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days "Gift of Hope" program, which delivers daffodils the flower of hope to patients in Decatur fighting cancer. Daffodil Days is also a fundraiser that supports the American Cancer Society, a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. Friends may call Laura Weaver, American Cancer Society, 800 322-4577 and request Gift of Hope flowers be donated in the memory of Chuck Zemaitis.
Additionally, friends may support the Cancer Research Institute by visiting www.cancerresearch.org. The Cancer Research Institute funds research aimed at furthering the development of immunological approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
Chuck will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He lived life to its fullest up to a week before his death. He did not know a stranger, and lit up a room with his smile and hearty laugh.
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