Gerald Lloyd Charter

Visitation for Gerald Lloyd Charter, 74, of Bonfield, will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday. The Rev. John Cross will officiate. Burial will be in the Bonfield Cemetery. Donations may be made to the family to be donated to various community organizations. He died Sunday (May 29, 2011) at his residence in Bonfield, following a short illness. Mr. Charter worked at Uptown Sales Body Shop in Kankakee as a body repairman until he built and started his own body shop business 50 years ago, Bonfield Motors in the village of Bonfield, in 1961. His son Ron joined him in 1977 and they worked together for 34 years. He was born Feb. 11, 1937, in Kankakee, the son of Earl and Mayme Kilpatrick Charter. He was a 1955 graduate of Reddick High School. He attended Joliet Junior College and Greer Tech in Chicago. He enjoyed antique cars, especially his tropical rose and white 1955 Ford Crown Victoria glass top which he restored. He won many awards for the car, along with his yellow 1967 El Ranchero. He attended numerous antique car shows in the Kankakee area and other states. He was a member of the AACA of America, a 16-year member of the '54, '55, '56 Ford Crown Association and a 36-year member of the Kankakee Valley Vintage Car Club. He owned several Mustang convertibles. He was very proud of the people and the village of Bonfield. He was a member of the village board for 36 years; volunteer for Salina Fire Protection District for many years, handling the fireworks display at the former Fourth of July celebrations; member of the Lions Club; an advanced severe weather spotter; past president of the Bonfield Grade School PTA; and former president of the Bonfield Sportsman Club. Surviving are his wife, the former Darlene Riegel, of Bonfield, whom he married Dec. 21, 1957, at Bonfield Evangelical United Brethren Church; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ron and Mary Charter, and Randy and Diane Charter, all of Bonfield; one daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Wayne Pippin, of Peachtree City, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Brandon and Melissa Charter, of Plainfield, Ryan Charter, of Macomb, Jared Charter, and Ian, Dylan and Hailey Charter, all of Bonfield, Jason Pippin, of Senoia, Ga., and Amy and Russell Coursey, of Peachtree, Ga.; one great-granddaughter, Megan Charter, of Plainfield; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Alan and Bonnie Charter, of Reddick, and Melba Rieke, of Bonfield; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother-in-law, Dale Rieke; and one niece, Sharon Rieke.

Gerald Lloyd Charter

February 11, 1937 - May 29, 2011