Charles Walter Fuller

Charles W. Fuller (1938-2023)

Charles W. Fuller, 85, of La Porte City, Iowa, passed away on October 20 at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls following a stroke in March 2022 and a recent short illness.

Charles was born June 14, 1938, in rural Traer to Robert Walter and Mattie Lucille (Cochran) Fuller. The Fullers lived and worked on the Bill and Cleo Alcorn farm. In 1940, they moved “down home” to Missouri/Arkansas. In 1943, they returned to Iowa, which Charles has called home ever since.

Returning to Traer, the family lived and worked on the J.W. Young farm. As he was 5 years old, Charles was excited to start school right away, since in Arkansas there had been no kindergarten. He loved school from the start. In 1953, his parents rented the J.L. Hill Oak Valley farm in Geneseo township. After Charles’ father passed away in 1955, he stayed with his mother so she could keep renting the farm. He helped raise his 3 younger brothers. He graduated Geneseo High School in 1956.

Charles met Marie McMillen of Waterloo at Chicken on Wheels in 1959 while cruising University Avenue. They married in 1962, and Marie came to live on the farm. A year later, Marie’s niece and nephew came to live with them.

In 1966, the family bought the Chambers farm in Cedar Township, Benton County where the whole crew moved in 1967. Charles and Marie added to the operation in 1994 by purchasing a farm just south of the original property. Charles continued to actively farm until his health would not allow in 2021.

Charles was hired at John Deere in Waterloo in 1965. He spent early years in the K building and later Engine Works. He retired from Deere in 2009 as set-up man on the block line, department 524. At Deere he made many lifelong friends. He enjoyed serving as a UAW pension representative.

Charles enjoyed many interests including flying. All of his children remember fondly being flown in the Cessna that he owned as part of the Sky Knights club, and Piper Archer he and Marie owned, both of which were hangared at Nichols Airport in La Porte City. Charles also had a love of motorcycles and old convertibles. His 59 Chevrolet Impala was a favorite for parades and cruises.

He remained an active member of the Geneseo Alumni association and stayed close with his high school classmates and their spouses. The entire class took a Caribbean cruise together for their 50th class reunion. Regular get-togethers and class trips were a constant in his later years.

Charles possessed a great wit and practical intelligence. For many years, he subscribed to National Geographic, Smithsonian, Time, and other magazines. He read them cover to cover then called his children to discuss the articles he thought would interest each of them. He read non-fiction books and recalled all the details. He enjoyed discussing family history and poring over old photos from prior generations, and he knew each name and often an anecdote for each person. He could relate the stories like he had been there even if it happened before he was born.

It was clear without stating it that Charles was a hard-working devoted man. By staying on the farm with his widowed mother as a young man, he made it possible for his younger brothers each to strike out on their own when the time came. This choice defined his adult life, yet was not a source of pride or resentment. Charles was fulfilled by a life of family, farming, and work.

“As the world turns – when I was younger, I thought I could steer this thing. As I get older, I just want to hang on and watch!” Charles W. Fuller

Charles is preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Richelle Lucille, brother David Fuller, sister-in-law Corinne Churchill, and sister-in-law Louise Krahulec.

Left to cherish Charles’ memory are his wife, Marie. Daughter Jennifer (David) Dillavou of Winnebago, Illinois; daughter Lisa (Brent) Gernant of Greybull, Wyoming; and son Matthew (Tammy Miller) Fuller of Dysart; brother Ray (Donna) Fuller of Chandler, Arizona; brother Daniel (Mardy) Fuller of Mesa, Arizona and La Porte City; sister-in-law Bridget Fuller of La Porte City, Grandchildren Amber (Jake) Baumgardner of Machesney Park, Illinois; Anthony (Jessica Hinkle) Dillavou of Winnebago; Don (Jackie) Dillavou of Winnebago; Rebekah Brainard of Grimes, Spencer Larsen of Traer, Garett (Frankie Kreinert) Fuller of Dysart, Hailey Larsen of Mechanicsville, and Elijah Fuller of Traer. Many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and special niece and nephew Cheryl Mullesch of Waterloo and Greg Fry of Colorado Springs. Also special pooch Patches.

There will be a visitation on Monday, October 30, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, at Parrott and Wood Chapel of Memories in Waterloo.  The funeral will follow at 3:00 PM, also at Parrott and Wood Chapel of Memories. 

Memorials may be directed to the family or to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.