Charles R. Beggs

Charles "Chuck" Beggs, a lifelong resident of Winfield and dedicated community leader, passed away peacefully on January 21st, 2025 at the age of 80 surrounded by his loving family. His remarkable life was filled with love of family, nature, and service to his community.
Born on March 24th, 1944 in Geneva, IL to Luella and Clarence Beggs, Chuck grew up in the house his grandfather purchased and converted from a horse barn in Winfield IL. Along with his younger sister, Mary Ann Hottendorf, he attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School and St. Francis High School.
After graduating high school, Chuck trained to be an electrician and enjoyed a long and prolific career as a union electrician. He worked on many significant projects in the area, including the Fermilab particle accelerator ring, Central DuPage Hospital, and dozens of others. Later in his career, he teamed up with his longtime friend and neighbor, John Fraser, to found Fraser-Beggs Enterprises. Together they designed and built many custom homes for their new neighbors.
Except for brief periods in Wheaton and Carol Stream, Chuck lived his entire life in Winfield, IL, a town in which his great-grandfather was an early founder and to which Chuck dedicated a large portion of his life and energy to supporting and improving. In 1978, Chuck and a small group of dedicated residents formed a team to found the Winfield Park District, where he was voted Board President and served in that office for 14 years. During his time as Board President, he was often found working in the new parks, clearing brush, planting trees, building playgrounds, and negotiating for new land for the District. His contributions to Winfield and the park district were recognized in 1992 when the park district's offices and activity center were named in his honor.
Chuck is survived by his wife LaVergne; his sister Mary Ann Hottendorf (husband, Bill); his children Vince Beggs (fiancée Jessia Livingston) and Kimberly Henkel (husband Mark), his niece Jennnifer Hottendorf (fiancé Jeffery Benda), and his grandchildren Reed Beggs, Rowan Beggs, and Elizabeth Henkel.
A celebration of Chuck's life will take place with a visitation on Thursday, January 23rd, 3:00-8:00 pm at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home 430 E Roosevelt Road, Wheaton. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 24th, 2:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Church, Winfield. Interment at Assumption Cemetery, Wheaton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital @https://www.stjude.org. Info @ www.williams-kampp.com or (630) 668-0016.
Chuck will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the community he helped shape.