Charles W. Buckley, 85, of Le Mars, Iowa formerly of Maurice, Iowa passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble, Iowa. Monsignor Mark Duchaine will celebrate Mass. Burial with military honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Maurice, Iowa. Visitation will be after 4:00 p.m. Thursday, January 16, 2014, with the family present after 5:00 p.m., and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all at Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Friday at the church. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.
Charles William Buckley was born June 25, 1928 on the family farm near Maurice, Iowa, the son of Fred and Irma (Keegan) Buckley. He attended school in Maurice and graduated from Maurice High School. He attended college at Westmar in Le Mars.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean Conflict. While stationed in Florida, he met his future wife, Virginia Boehm. They were married on December 19, 1953. Following his honorable discharge, they moved to a farm near Maurice. Charles farmed near Maurice for many years and also was a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service for over 34 years. Virginia passed away November 10, 1995.
Later, he married Barbara Blenner on April 25, 1997 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble. Together, they made their home near Maurice. In January of 2013, they moved to Le Mars. Shortly after, he became a resident of the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.
Charles was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble and the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars. He was also a member of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. Charles was a former board member for Gehlen Catholic School. Through the years, Charles enjoyed gardening and traveling. But most of all, he loved the times spent with his family. He will be remembered as a gentle, kind spirited man. He will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Le Mars; his children: Ann (Ronnie) Lill of Le Mars, Mary (Randy) Klein of Alton, IA, Robert (Kerri Jo) Buckley of Orange City, IA, Molly Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, and Thomas Buckley of Brooklyn, NY; his step children: Pam (Rick) Westphal of Larrabee, IA, Jerry (Fern) Blenner of Holstein, IA, Tim (Kim) Blenner of Schaller, IA, Robert (Joni) Blenner of Holstein, IA, and Ann (Korey) Bowman of Kingsley, IA; 10 grandchildren; 12 step grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 10 step great grandchildren; his sisters: Mary Kay Dunbar of Omaha, NE, and Sheila (Bill) Enders of Ponca, NE; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Irma Buckley; a son in infancy: William “Billy” Buckley; two brothers: Dan Buckley and Dennis Buckley; a sister: Colleen Buckley; and a step grandson: Jason Blenner. ©
