Charles ‘Chuck’ C. Iler

On March 1, 2011, Chuck went to join his family and friends that have preceded him. Chuck’s wishes were that his family and friends would come together for a celebration of life. It will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2011, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the Lake Panorama Resort and Conference Center, 5071 Clover Ridge Road, Panora, Iowa 50216. A second celebration will be held in Desert Hot Springs, California, in March at a date yet to be determined.
Chuck was born on April 4, 1927, in Greenfield, Iowa. He attended grade school in Bakersfield, California, and moved to Vallejo, California, where he attended high school prior to entering the U.S. Navy. He flew an SB2C bomber off the carrier U.S.S. Hancock in WWII, and he worked at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard as an apprentice plumber and steamfitter after his service in the Navy. He then attended the University of California Berkley, and graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. Chuck eventually returned to the Midwest where he lived in Detroit, Cleveland, and Council Bluffs before settling in Des Moines. He there met Betty Ann Pilmer, and they married in 1953. Chuck and Betty had two children, Bruce and Kathy, and raised them in Johnston. They also spent a good deal of time at their home at Lake Panorama. Chuck was an excellent father and a wonderful grandpa.
Chuck had many jobs prior to finding his ultimate career with Peerless Supply, Inc. in 1956, and in 1963, purchased the company with partners. Chuck enjoyed the industrial supply business and made countless friends of co-workers, customers, suppliers and competitors. He was very involved in local and national trade associations, including SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), ISA (Industrial Supply Association), the Iowa-Nebraska Distributors Association and many others. He also served on the Johnston Planning and Zoning Board, and was President of the Johnston School Board.
Chuck enjoyed sports, especially golf and fishing. Upon his retirement in 1994, Chuck and Betty wintered in Orange Beach, Alabama, where he was able to play golf often and occasionally fish. Betty passed away in 1998, and Chuck began going to Naples, Florida before finding his home in Desert Hot Springs, California. In the last many years, Chuck spent half of his time at Lake Panorama and the other half in Desert Hot Springs. He was blessed with wonderful groups of friends in all the places he spent time. He loved many and was loved by many. He was an extremely kind and selfless person, a truly remarkable man.
Chuck is survived by his daughter, Kathy (Laine) Wright of Eudora, Kansas, and their children, Kalen and Lucas; his son, Bruce Iler of Johnston, and his children, Brendon, Addie, Andrea, and Corrina, and great-granddaughter, Maya, born to Addie on January 11, 2011. He will also be missed by his friend, Bev Saari, and so many of the people that he was fortunate enough to have been close to.
God Bless you Father. We will miss you Dad, and look forward to being together again someday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chuck Iler Gift Fund, Guthrie County State Bank, Panora, Iowa 50216, in his name. Chuck gave freely to those in need throughout his life, and his family wishes to carry on his memory through the gift fund.
Online condolences may be made to: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.