Springfield, Illinois - Charles Alphonse Hartke, 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Teutopolis, Illinois, with burial and military service immediately following in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church prior to the service from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Crisis Nursery of Effingham County. Arrangements are in the care of Bauer Funeral Home in Teutopolis. *Full obituary at www.bauerfh.com.

Charles was born on May 7, 1944, to Alphonse and Sophia Hartke. He graduated from Teutopolis High School in 1962 and married Kathryn L. Hoene on August 10, 1963, at St. Mary's of Help Catholic Church in Green Creek, Illinois. They were blessed with two children, Christopher and Kimberly. A lifelong member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Teutopolis, Charles was also active in the Knights of Columbus Council #2874 and the American Legion Post 924. From 1966 to 1968, Charles proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Stationed in Quang Tri, Vietnam, he served as a field medic, holding the rank of E5 Sergeant and overseeing triage operations.

Charles is survived by his fiancée, Brenda Holmes of Springfield; his son, Christopher (Beth) Hartke of Teutopolis, IL; his daughter, Kimberly (Patrick) Deters of Teutopolis, IL; and his cherished grandchildren: Ryan Deters of Glen Carbon, IL, Rachael (Curtis) Meuth of St. Louis, MO, Jaelen (Rodrigo) Deters-Camargo of Peoria, IL, Madeline (Jordan) Ratermann of Aviston, IL, Anna (Mark) Wendell of Jerseyville, IL, and Jack Hartke of Teutopolis, IL; great-grandson Luke Wendell.

He is also survived by his siblings: Margie Clayton Apke, Sally Wakefield, Patricia (Bob) Poston, Phillip (Carol) Hartke, and Michael(Eileen) Hartke; his sisters-in-law: Charlene (Jerry) Hartke, Joan (Frank) Hartke, Joyce (Raymond) Vahling, Dolores (Charlie) Kroeger, Bernice Dasenbrock; and his brother-in-law, Henry (Lois) Hoene.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathryn; his parents; his sisters, Mary Lou Vahling and Elvira Verdeyen; and his brothers, Gerald and Francis Hartke.