Charles Micheletti

He was born November 1, 1919 in Fulton Co. to Theresa and Edward Micheletti . He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Linda Allen.

In January, 1959, he married Marie Gooding. She survives. Also surviving are two sons, Chuck and Ted; one daughter Yvonne; and one sister, Virginia Micheletti.

A conscientious objector he served in WWII as a medic in North Africa and Italy.

After the war he worked at Caterpillar in East Peoria and Mapleton until he retired. Always an advocate for the protection of the rights of laborers, he was UAW member and at one time a chief steward.

During his retirement he attended college, graduating from Illinois Central College in 1991.

He was faithful to the precepts of his Christian faith.

Issues of peace, justice, and civil liberties were close to his heart. He was member of the Peoria Area Peace Network and a long time board member of the Peoria Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He worked in various groups that advocated against capital punishment, knowing that it was often unjustly and unequally administered. His concern for children lead him to be a founding member of Concerned Citizens for Exceptional Children and an ardent advocate to ban corporal punishment in schools. Among the many awards he received were the David Citron Civil Libertarian award from ACLU and the Betty Osborn award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of American.

His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, November7, 2009at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Mark Peters and Nathan Pedigo will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Private burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

He was a kind and loving husband and father. We shall miss him.