Charles F. Boucher, age 89, of Sterling, IL, died Sunday, October 6, 2019, at The Citadel of Sterling.
Charles was born May 19, 1930, in Rock Falls, IL, the son of William and Ellie Mae Boucher. He was employed and retired from Northwestern Steel and Wire and was a licensed plumber/pipefitter for 62 years. He married Dorothy Warkins on December 27, 1950, in Oregon, IL. She preceded him in death on April 16, 2019. Charles’s mother died when he was ten years old, which is when he went to work to help raise his sisters, because they lived in a boxcar on Sandburg Prairie Hill. He assisted his uncle, Frank Boucher, with fishing on the Rock River. Charles sold fish to numerous hobos who would camp along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Sterling. Charles enjoyed Goldwing motorcycling, snowmobiling, and spending many winters in Texas. He was a two-time Golden Gloves Champion and was known to wrestle a bear a time or two, at local fairs. It is still unknown who won. Charles was a member of First Christian Church in Sterling.
He is survived by sons, Larry (Lori) Boucher of Sterling, Michael (Tya) Boucher of Rock Falls, and Terry Boucher of Prophetstown, IL; sisters, Lois Popkins of Sterling, Beverly Burrough and Karen (Dick) Kuehl of Morrison, IL; grandchildren, Dalton Boucher of Ft. Stewart, GA, Tory (Jacob) Spears of Wyanet, IL, Tyler Boucher of Prophetstown, Bonnie (Andrew Buncher) Boucher of Sterling, Hunter Boucher of Prophetstown, and Rainna Boucher of Prophetstown; great-grandson, Charlie Michael Boucher.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; one son, Gregory Boucher; and one daughter in infancy.
Visitation will be Saturday, October 12, 2019, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls.
A memorial has been established.
Online condolences may be sent to www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com.