CHARLES EDWARD MARTIN SR.

ILLINOIS CITY, Illinois – Charles Edward Martin Sr., 95, our dad slipped quietly into forever with Jesus on September 3, 2025. Charles was the first-born son of C. Maynard Martin and Josephine A. (Danner) Martin. Charles married our mother, Opal Mae (Gentzler) Martin, on October 30, 1948. They spent 76 years together.

Charles was a self-made man determined to make his dreams come true. He farmed his whole life and made a good living for all of us. He wanted to learn to fly an airplane and spent many hours at the dining room table learning how to fly. Then he went boating on the river in houseboats named CHOP, the first two initials of our parents’ names. Many hours in the sun and sand with friends and family. Next came the motorhomes and years of wintering in Arizona. When he was tired of driving back and forth, he and our mother settled into their quiet home in Illinois City.

He leaves behind his wife, Opal; daughters, Peggy and Joel Nelson, Sandra Begyn and Ken Burns, and Kimberly Nelson; son, Charles Edward Martin Jr. and Amy Lincoln; 10 grandchildren, Josie Cardoza, Jenny Gonzalez, Dennis Begyn, Jesse Begyn, Mike Nelson, Martin Nelson, Eric Davis, Brandy Wedekind, Heather Martin, and Maynard Martin; 27 great grandchildren, David, Moses, Ezekiel, Arieana, Isabella, Joziah, Omar, Emily, Liliana, Braeden, Evan, Austin, Briece, Grant, Coltin, Dodge, Gauge, Ellie, Tyson, Jaxson, Allyson, Zoey, Damien, Maximus, Iris, Victoria, and Virginia; great great grandchild, Grayson; brother, Merrill Martin; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Martin.

Those who welcomed him into heaven were his parents; brother, Bernard Martin; grandson, Charles Edward Martin III; and great granddaughter, Lily Mae Martin.

Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Illinois City Cemetery. A time for food and fellowship will be following the burial at the Illinois City Hall. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Illinois City Cemetery. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com