Charles G. Wempe

Charles Wempe

Charles G. "Charlie" Wempe, 85, of Belleville, Ill., formerly of Aviston, Ill., born on Nov. 14, 1926, in Aviston, Ill., died on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at his residence.

Charlie was a World War II and Korean Army veteran. He retired from International Harvester, St. Louis, Mo., and later worked for Gateway City International in St. Louis, Mo. He was also a pari-mutuel clerk at Fairmount Park Race Track. He was a member of American Legion Post 1239 in Aviston, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Christine, nee Schonhoff, Wempe; his sister, Lidwina White; his brothers, Urban and Paul Wempe; and his daughter-in-law, Paula, nee Cullen Wempe.

Surviving are his wife, Helen, nee Halpin, Wempe; his children, Mary Beth (Ron) Chamberlain of Cheshire, Conn., and Charles "Chuck" Wempe of Arvada, Colo.; his grandchildren, Michaela "Emmy," Danielle, and Benjamin; and his sisters, Mary Wuebbels of Trenton, Ill., and Viola Finch of St. Louis, Mo.

The Wempe family would like to thank family and friends especially the Fahey family for their support and prayers. The family is grateful to St. Elizabeth's Hospital nursing and support staff and Hospice of Southern Illinois for their special care of our loved one.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.kasslyfuneral.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at Kassly Mortuary, Fairview Heights, Ill. The American Legion Aviston Post 1239 will have a ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.

Friends may also call from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill., with Father Sean Palas officiating. Interment will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, Ill.

KASSLY MORTUARY, Fairview Heights, Ill.