Charles W. Williams was born November 27, 1928 in Hepburn, IA to Walter and Zoa Williams. Better known as "Charlie" to all his friends and family, he was the seventh of ten children. Charlie completed 8th grade at the Davis School in 1943 before becoming a full-time farmer, a passion that would define him for the rest of his life. "I'm a farmer, plain and simple," he was proud to say, and he was missing half his right index finger, from a farming accident, to prove it. He worked his family's farm, and then his own, in the countryside near Clarinda, IA.

He first met his future wife, Gloria Jean Burroughs, on an early June day in 1962 outside the JCPenney store where she worked with his sister-in-law Lota Williams. Charlie wed his sweetheart Jeanne on Sunday, April 5, 1964 at the Yorktown Methodist Church and they welcomed their oldest son, John Lee, to their home in Braddyville, Iowa in 1965. Severe allergies and health problems forced him to leave farming in 1966, then he worked construction and nursery jobs until permanent disability led to his early retirement in 1973. Middle son Michael Aaron, born 1969, and youngest son James Edgar, born 1971, completed their family, which moved to Shenandoah, IA in 1975, where Charlie and Jeanne remained to his final days.

Friends and family remember him for his kind, easy going nature and his spontaneous outbursts of salty jokes, singing and playing his beloved harmonica -- "The Old Gray Mare" and "My Darling Clementine" being among his favorite tunes. Charlie also loved to reminisce and tell stories from his youth growing up on the farm. A member of the United Methodist Church of Shenandoah, he nurtured his Christian beliefs by reading the Bible and watching faith-based television programs.

Like his Lord Jesus, Charlie was also an accomplished carpenter -- building wren houses for the birds he loved to watch and giving away his handmade what-nots to friends, family, and strangers alike. He loved planting his garden every spring, and relished feasting on fresh onion and butter sandwiches, new peas and creamed potatoes, and his favorite - rhubarb pie. He enjoyed fishing and shared this love with his sons and, more recently, his grandchildren Lexi and Jake, children of John and wife Heidi (Albright), who live nearby in Omaha, NE.

Charlie, who would have been 80 this November, is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jeanne, and three sons, John and wife Heidi and grandchildren Lexi and Jake of Omaha, NE; Michael, of New York City; Jamie of Champaign, IL; sister Izola Williams of Utah; brother Kenneth Williams of Clarinda; sisters-in-law Joan Williams, Juanita Williams and Lota Beery, of Clarinda, IA; and on his wife's side, Patty Baker of Council Bluffs, Geraldine and Ed Major of Creston, IA; Rose Harms of Shenandoah; Shirley and Vernard Thomas of Coin, IA; Leona Clark of Richland; and brothers-in-law Marion and Carolyn Burroughs of Corning; Vince and Junell Burroughs of Wellman, IA, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents Walter and Zoa Williams and parents-in-law Jesse and Ethel Burroughs; brothers Richard and his wife Doris, Ernest, Harold, Lyle and his wife Edith, and Stanley; sisters Gladys and husband Ed May, and Dona Mae and husband Paul Gene Gray; brothers-in-law Alvin Baker, Jesse Burroughs, Winfred Harms, and Bob Clark; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah, Iowa. Words of comfort were given by Rev. Jim Gubser and Rev. Clark Finehout. Soloist, Dawn Millikan, was accompanied by Becky Hoenshel. Special music was "In The Garden", "I Can Only Imagine" and "In The Sweet Bye And Bye". Ushers were Gary Milstead and Heath Albright. Debbie Davenport and Shelly Turner attended the memory register. Caring for flowers were Heidi Williams, Debbie Milstead and Donna Wright. Casket bearers were Craig Williams, Danny Williams, David Williams, Chris Harms, Marty Burroughs, Eddie Eugene Major, Clark Burroughs, Terry Clark and Doug Harms. Honorary casket bearers were all his family and friends because he loved them all. Interment was in Union Grove Cemetery in Northboro, Iowa. A memorial is being established in Charles' name. Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared on the web at www.hackettlivingston.com .