02/15/2016
Charles Eldon Sims, 87, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 15, 2016, at West Ridge
Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at the
Winfield Funeral Home on Thursday the 18th of February at 10:30 A.M., followed by
burial service at Breckenridge Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by
the American Legion/VFW Honor Guard. Visitation will be held on Wednesday,
February 17th from 4 P.M. – 6 P.M.
Chas was born on September 11, 1928, near Pershing, Iowa. He was raised outside
Pershing where he attended Victory Grade School just north of Pershing.
He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1946. Following high school, he enlisted
in the United States Air Force where he served as an aircraft mechanic.
He was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL. While serving there,
he regularly visited Bushnell,
Illinois where he met Shirley.
Charlie and Shirley were married on June 5, 1954.
Charlie was honorably discharged in December 1954, and he, Shirley, and Teresa
moved to Iowa the following January.
Chas and Shirley settled outside of Attica, Iowa where they farmed for most
of his life. Originally a full-working farm with livestock and row crops, their
farm would evolve through the years but remained the focal point of their life
and family endeavors.
In later years, Chas kept busy tending to his gardens,
fruit trees and beloved roses.
He was an avid photographer and loved taking
photographs during their extensive travel throughout the United States and the
The Caribbean. From the late 1970's through the early 2000's, Chas and Shirley were
steadfast Knoxville High School Volleyball fans, attending most games, where
Chas took hundreds of photographs that he kindly shared with the players
throughout the years. Chas also loved golfing, a pastime he shared with his
wife.
He is survived by his loving wife Shirley, his daughter Teresa Spaur (Jack), and his
granddaughters Kaleen Adams (Rob) and Angie Deardorff. His great-grandchildren
Shane Jones (Amy), Lyndsay Strom (Justin), Megan Adams, Nicole Adams, John
Adams, Payne Hoyt, and his great-great-grandson Jackson Jones. Chas' family was
deeply important to him and he greatly enjoyed the title " Gramps" at his regular
family gatherings where his famous Barbecue Ribs were standard fare.
He was preceded in death by his parents John A. and Loreen, his brother Harry,
and his sister-in-law Katheryn.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Attica United Methodist Church,
1733 S Attica Street, Knoxville, IA, or to Hospice of Central Iowa.