Charles L. Burgess, 87

Charles L. (“Charlie” or “Chuck”) Burgess of Woodstock passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at SSM Health Monroe, Wis., Hospital, after a brief illness related to cancer complications.

Born July 27, 1938, in Orchard Township, Wayne County, Ill., his heart always belonged to “southern Illinois.” Charlie was an accomplished union contractor and owner of Burgess Construction for many years, and he was very proud of the family home he built in 1965 on Raycraft Road. After his body rebelled from years of physical labor, he worked for Independent Inspections LTD as a building inspector in small communities in northern Illinois, including Wonder Lake and Lake In the Hills. 

Charlie always valued the many friendships in his life and enjoyed the daily morning “coffee clutches” throughout his life, most recently the “Retired Old Men’s Group” at McDonald’s in Woodstock. Farming was always a part of his life, having enjoyed working the soil as a child and young man on the family farm in the Brush Creek area near Xenia, Ill. He still enjoyed hearing about Charla’s farm in Michigan and cruising the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin countryside to view the crops, watch the harvest, and to keep an eye on any building projects he came across. He was so very thankful that he was still able to drive, up until just the last few days of his life. He enjoyed horseback riding, stock car races, auctions, old Western movies/TV shows, and in recent years, reading Western novels. He also was once an avid ATV rider, enjoying trips to the Green Bay area of Wisconsin with dear friends. He traded in the ATV for an electric wheelchair a few years back and could sometimes be seen cruising to the Woodstock Square, McDonald’s or Three Brothers Restaurant. Charles was also an active member of the priesthood of the Community of Christ/RLDS Church during the years when his kids were growing up.

Charles was predeceased by his parents, Cloyd “Tige” Burgess in 1950 and Opal (née Greathouse) Burgess Shehorn in 2008, Lawrence Shehorn, and older sister Shirley Werba. He is survived by older brother Milford (the late Joan) Burgess of North Richland Hills, Texas, (formerly of Elgin) and younger sister Judy (Laurence) Culbertson of Coolidge, Ariz. He was always very proud of his children, all of whom survive him, Jeff (Veronika) Burgess of McHenry, Jea Nae (Jay) Remala of Kingston, Gayla Burgess of Marion, Iowa, and Charla Burgess (Ron Shepard) of Frankfort, Mich. Charlie found great joy in his grandchildren, Ryan Burgess (Nicole Domanico) of Nashville, Tenn., Abigail Burgess (Kristopher Coss) of Wonder Lake, Emma Wiegel (Dillon) of Martelle, Iowa, Willa Kramer and Simon Kramer of Frankfort, Mich., Drew Remala of Parker, Colo., and great-grandkids Cruz, Zane, Quintyn and Amara Wiegel, as well as Finn and Bentley Wiegel. He also leaves behind special friends Ken and Mary Gregory of Baldwin, Iowa, and many friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews that he loved dearly.

Charlie’s sparkling blue eyes, wide grin, and great sense of humor will be missed by many, but has now been shared again with all his family and friends that greeted him in heaven. His family wishes to thank all those in his life that called him friend, made him laugh, and helped him remain independent all these years, which was of significant importance to him. 

Per Charles’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. He chose cremation and requested that his ashes be spread at his favorite childhood fishing hole near the Burgess homestead in southern Illinois. A celebration of life to fulfill his final wishes will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Sam Dale Lake in Johnsonville, Ill.