Charles "Chuck" Iler
March 01, 2011
On March 1, 2011, Chuck went to join his family and friends that have preceded him. Chuck’s wishes were that his family and friends would come together for a celebration of life. It will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2011, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the Lake Panorama Resort and Conference Center, 5071 Clover Ridge Road, Panora, Iowa 50216. A second celebration will be held in Desert Hot Springs, California, in March at a date yet to be determined.
Chuck was born on April 4, 1927, in Greenfield, Iowa. He attended grade school in Bakersfield, California, and moved to Vallejo, California, where he attended high school prior to entering the U.S. Navy. He flew an SB2C bomber off the carrier U.S.S. Hancock in WWII, and he worked at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard as an apprentice plumber and steamfitter after his service in the Navy. He then attended the University of California Berkley, and graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. Chuck eventually returned to the Midwest where he lived in Detroit, Cleveland, and Council Bluffs, before settling in Des Moines. He there met Betty Ann Pilmer, and they married in 1953. Chuck and Betty had two children, Bruce and Kathy, and raised them in Johnston. They also spent a good deal of time at their home at Lake Panorama. Chuck was an excellent father and a wonderful grandpa.
Chuck had many jobs prior to finding his ultimate career with Peerless Supply, Inc. in 1956, and in 1963, purchased the company with partners. Chuck enjoyed the industrial supply business and made countless friends of co-workers, customers, suppliers and competitors. He was very involved in local and national trade associations, including SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), ISA (Industrial Supply Association), the Iowa-Nebraska Distributors Association and many others. He also served on the Johnston Planning and Zoning Board, and was President of the Johnston School Board.
Chuck enjoyed sports, especially golf and fishing. Upon his retirement in 1994, Chuck and Betty wintered in Orange Beach, Alabama, where he was able to play golf often and occasionally fish. Betty passed away in 1998, and Chuck began going to Naples, Florida before finding his home in Desert Hot Springs, California. In the last many years, Chuck spent half of his time at Lake Panorama and the other half in Desert Hot Springs. He was blessed with wonderful groups of friends in all the places he spent time. He loved many and was loved by many. He was an extremely kind and selfless person, a truly remarkable man.
Chuck is survived by his daughter, Kathy (Laine) Wright of Eudora, Kansas, and their children, Kalen and Lucas; his son, Bruce Iler of Johnston, and his children, Brendon, Addie, Andrea, and Corrina, and great-granddaughter, Maya, born to Addie on January 11, 2011. He will also be missed by his friend, Bev Saari, and so many of the people that he was fortunate enough to have been close to.
God Bless you, Father. We will miss you, Dad, and look forward to being together again someday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chuck Iler Gift Fund, Guthrie County State Bank, Panora, Iowa 50216, in his name. Chuck gave freely to those in need throughout his life, and his family wishes to carry on his memory through the gift fund.
Online condolences may be made to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Doug and Isabelle Southam
03/07/2011
Our sympathy to Chuck's Family. It has been a privilege to have
known Chuck during our winters spent at Hidden Springs CC. He will
be greatly missed.
Doug and Isabelle Southam
Don Saari
03/06/2011
To Bruce and Kathy,
I have not personally met you both, but I had the great pleasure of meeting and getting to know your father Chuck. What a great guy. I met him at a Thanksgiving get together at my Mother's home in Palm Desert a few years ago. Geez, he was super pleasant to speak with and he had an engaging personality. We would talk about sports, golf, cars, you name it--it was very easy getting to know your Dad. Since that meeting--Chuck made trips to Centralia WA to celebrate the Holidays and my Grandmother's Birhtday. It was really nice to have a man in his age category to speak with as we lost our father a few years back. I really respected the way your Dad looked out for my Mom and our family.
Let me say this--Chuck was loved by everyone in our family, he will be missed.
Take Care
Don Saari
Larry and Carolyn Strickler
03/05/2011
Bruce, Kathy and families,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. What wonderful memories I have of him and Betty as I started my teaching career at Johnston.
Gos bless all of you!
Larry and Carolyn Strickler
Steve and Kim Bryant
03/05/2011
We were blessed to have met Chuck and we will miss him. We are so sorry for your loss. There are few men in the world as great as he was. Please call us if you need anything. Love Steven and KIm
Mary Seaman Baker
03/03/2011
Dear Bruce and Kathy,
My condolences on the passing of your father. I remember both of your parents fondly. I have a few special memories from Lake Panorama when our families spent time together. All of my best to you.
Sincerely,
Mary Seaman Baker
St. Paul, Minnesota
Diane Rushing Elliott
03/03/2011
Bruce,
So sorry to hear of your dad's passing. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family at this time. When my father passed away it took along time to get used to not thinking he was going to be there for this and that and make the furniture I needed, but after awhile it does get better. Take care.
Sally
03/03/2011
Hope you can find some comfort and peace in all the great memories you have with your father. Just lean on each other during this trying time.
Ric and Marian Rambacher
03/03/2011
Laine and Kathy,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. I know this is very difficult but I'm sure your father is beside Our Father enjoying his final reward. The fishing has never been better or the greens truer for your dad.
If there is anything you need please let me know.
Teri Temple Goff
03/03/2011
Bruce, Kathy and families,
So sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. What wonderful memories I have of him when we were kids. Just want you to know I am thinking of you at this time and my prayers are with you.
Love ya,
Teri
Dave and Shanell Wagler
03/03/2011
My deepest sympathy to the Iler family for the loss of Chuck.
I only knew Chuck for 9 years, but I quickly learned that Chuck was truly one of a kind. He was kind, intelligent, ambitious, caring person that had a passion for helping people. Chuck lived life to the fullest, and he will be missed by everybody that knew him.
May you find strength and comfort in this difficult time ahead of you.
Dave and Shanell
Dave & Pat Brommel
03/03/2011
To the Family of Chuck Iler,
Our hearts are heavy with sorrow having learned of your loss. We were blessed to have been friends with Chuck for the past 20 plus years while at Firestone. We are looking forward to being with you to rejoice and celebrate Chuck's wonderful memories while he was with us. I am positive Chuck is looking down and smiling having known his time with his friends and family will be remembered forever.
May God bless the family in their time of sorrow and may all the beautiful memories of Chuck's life live in our hearts forever.
John and Carolyn Lund
03/03/2011
We are sad to lose our friend and neighbor. Chuck was always someone we looked forward to seeing . We would like his family to know that he was like family to all of us in the community.
Steve Norris
03/03/2011
May God comfort you in your loss. Chuck was a fine gentleman with a great sense of humor. He will be missed by all who knew him. If everyone conducted business like Chuck and his friend Pete did there would be a lot less conflict in this world.
Kent & Shirley Stephenson
03/03/2011
Chuck Iler will be missed by many especially his children, I feel that same hurt in my heart as he was my friend. He was always strong as a rock when raising funds for a good cause, however he never wanted the recognition, but was instead pleased by the success of the campaign.
I am a better person because of knowing and working with Chuck as are countless others.
Shirley and I offer our profound sympathy to his family.
Kent & Shirley Stephenson