Charles Bruce Neuenschwander

MAPLETON ~ Charles Bruce Neuenschwander, age 92 of Pekin, passed away at 12:13 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at the Villas of Hollybrook, where he resided. He was formerly of Mapleton and known as “Newt” or “CB”.

Born on April 14, 1928, on the Neuenschwander farm near Mapleton, he was the son of Jacob Leslie and Sarah Bell “Vicie” (Beck) Neuenschwander. He married Juanita Mildred Dawson in 1950 and they were married for 70 years.

Surviving are his wife; four children, Bruce Leslie (Linda) of Cody, Wyoming, Rodney (Brenda) of Mapleton, Anita (Russell) Zeine of Mapleton and Teresa (James) Durand of Dunlap; fifteen grandchildren, Jeff (Nykie), Jake (Hope), Missy, Sarah (Jared) Gilbert, Rebecca (Kevin) Copeland, Zachary (Emily), Rachel (Mark) Weber, Kate (Brandon) Krumholz, Kristina (Mark) Duval, Ashley (Rick) Scott, Amanda (Nic) Zeine-Nardi, Trey (Joel) Zeinestone, Lacie (Greg) Damhorst, Luke (Stephanie) Durand and Cody (fiancée, Camille) Durand; seventeen great-grandchildren, Dylan, Derek, LaRya, Jordan, Carter, Aubri, Raegan, Gabriel, Noa, Aspen, Lincoln, Piper, Rhett, Eli, Ethan, Sadie and Clara; four step-great-grandchildren, Kendra (Matt) Wetter, Ryan (Ali) McClanahan, Emma Gilbert and Brianna Krumholz and one great-great-grandson, Bryson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; twin grandchildren, Whitney and Jesse Zeine; one sister, Zelma Ruth; a still born sister and a great-granddaughter, Kennedy Copeland.

Charles lived at the same farm for 89 years, where he was born, married, and raised their four children. He loved living on the 80 acre farm as it was his passion. To help provide for his family he also worked at Commercial Solvent in Peoria from 1945 to 1953, along with working at Allied Mills in Bartonville from 1948 to 1949, Connor Company in Peoria from 1953 to 1959, and lastly at Keystone Steel & Wire Company in Bartonville for 30 years from 1959 to 1990. He was still farming up until his death in sharecropping.

He was a United States veteran having served in the Korean War from January 1951 to October 1952 with the 3rd Division, 3rd Military Police as a clerk/typist. He was a longtime member of Glasford American Legion Post 35. He also was a 50-year member of Lancaster Lodge #106, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Glasford. He had served on the Maple Ridge Cemetery Board and was a member and past board member of the Peoria County Farm Bureau.

Bruce saw beauty in all of God’s nature, which he loved and spoke of in a lot of his conversations. Most of his hobbies centered around nature; mushroom hunting, bird watching, commenting on the deer and turkeys that were around the farm, walking through the woods just for enjoyment, putting up bird feeders close to the windows so he could watch their behavior, watching the squirrels play in the nearby trees, chopping firewood, spending time in his tool shed, gardening and planting flowers to watch them grow. He also loved watching the leaves fall from the trees in the fall when it was their time. In all, he enjoyed the simple things in life!

There was not a stranger that he did not know no matter if it was locally or in a different state. He was always friendly and willing to have a conversation with anyone. He was loved so much and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all he knew.

His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 12, 2021 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. Kathy Barrett will officiate. There will be no public visitation. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Mapleton, with military rites accorded by the Glasford American Legion Post #35.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, American Lung Association or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com