PONTIAC — Charles M. “Chuck” Pearson, 56, of rural Pontiac, died at 3:24 p.m. April 10, 2015, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. April 25 at First Presbyterian Church, Pontiac, with the Rev. Frank Fisher officiating. A visitation will be from 10 a.m. April 25 at the church until the hour of service.
A reception will be from 4 to 6 p.m. that same day at the Elks Lodge in Pontiac. The reception will begin with an Elks ritual, to which all are invited.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorials made in Chuck’s name to the First Presbyterian Church or Illinois Elks Children’s Care. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home, Pontiac, is handling the arrangements.
Chuck was born March 6, 1959, in Pontiac, a son of Eldon and Hope Greenman Pearson.
Survivors include three brothers, James (Carine) Pearson, Fort Collins, Colo.; Thomas (Linda) Pearson, De Pere, Wis.; and Larry (Lynda) Pearson, Mill Valley, Calif.; one niece; four nephews; four great-nieces; and one great-nephew.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents.
He grew up on a purebred Holstein and grain farm in Central Illinois where his family produced many nationally-recognized animals. Being around the livestock industry and farm auctions, he developed a dream to become an auctioneer, which he realized in 1995. He had rapid success in the Pearson Auction Co. and was associated with Terry Wilke.
Chuck was a graduate of Pontiac Township High School and received his bachelor of science in agriculture with a minor in communications from Illinois State University in 1981. He graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 1995.
Chuck began work as a field representative for the Holstein Association covering the southern third of Minnesota. He then worked 30 years for Country Mutual Insurance Co. in Bloomington as loss control representative, commercial account underwriter and district underwriter.
He was a member of the National Auctioneers Association, Illinois and Wisconsin Auctioneers Association, District Four chairman of the Illinois State Auctioneers Association and was on the board of directors for Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation, Pontiac Elks Lodge 1019 and First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac. In the Elks, he was a past exalted ruler and past district deputy grand exalted ruler and a trustee of the Pontiac Lodge.
Chuck was a kind, compassionate and generous man, who believed in making everything better. He loved to see people having a good time.
He also loved traveling, rodeos, Key West, being with friends and family and spending time with his nieces and nephews.
Chuck put his whole heart into everything he did.
This obituary may be viewed and guest book signed at www.calvertmemorial.com.
