Charles Burgess
Edwardsville |
Charles Edward Burgess, 82, formerly of Bethalto, passed away at 10:37 am Monday, April 27, 2015 at St. Anthony’s Health Center in Alton.
He was born on June 23, 1932 in Flint, Michigan, the son of James Oliver and Laura Leslie (Bailey) Burgess.
He married Arene Wiemers on May 30, 1959 in Petersburg, IL. She survives.
Charles graduated in 1950 from Lewistown Missouri High School as the salutatorian of his class. He graduated from the University Of Missouri School Of Journalism in 1955. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. He was then the editor of the Tazwell Courier in East Peoria, a reporter for the Peoria Journal Star and a reporter and education writer for the St. Louis Globe Democrat until 1987. He then became the Public Affairs Director for the St. Louis School system until his retirement in 1996. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, where he ushered for many years. He was avid genealogist and had traced many of his family back to colonial times. He was also an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution where he edited the local chapter publication, called the Long Knives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one niece, Elizabeth Ratliff of Valley Falls, KS; two nephews, John Schaller of Oklahoma City, OK and Bruce Schaller of Butler, MO; two great nieces, Morgan and Logan Ratliff and three great nephews, Ryan, Renner and Christopher Schaller.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Alice Schaller, a nephew, Roger Schaller and a great nephew, Bryan Schaller.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Friday, May 1, 2015 at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto with Pastor Kale Hanson and Pastor Willard Meyer.
Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Scholarships for the Sons of the American Revolution or to Zion Lutheran School.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
