Charles Richard Zindel, age 87, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Chuck was born on November 15, 1938, in Moweaqua, Illinois, to Herman and Alice (Lambdin) Zindel. He attended Moweaqua High School and later graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Business.
While attending Western Illinois University, Chuck met the love of his life, Carol Wheeler. They were married on June 23, 1962, and shared more than 53 years of marriage before Carol's passing. During this period, Chuck proudly served in the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1967 before continuing his career in agricultural equipment sales.
Chuck is survived by his children Keith (Sue) Zindel, Kevin (Esther) Zindel, and Debra "Debbie" (Michael) Wisdom; grandchildren Kristin (Collin) Hayes, Amanda Zindel, Wendy Flores, Ana Flores, and Andrew "Drew" Wisdom; great-grandchildren Cameron Hayes and Devin Hayes; sister Evelyn (Bob) Schmitz; sisters-in-law Helen (Johno) Zindel and Barbara (Jordan) Zindel; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol Zindel; his parents, Herman and Alice (Lambdin) Zindel; his brothers Herman Zindel, Ralph Zindel, and James Zindel; and his sister, Elizabeth (Zindel) Teichman.
Chuck was known by many names throughout his life. Depending on when and where you knew him, he was known as Richard to his family and friends in Moweaqua. He was also known as Charles, Chuck, Dick, Zip, or Chucky. To his children he was Dad. To his grandchildren he was Grandpa. To Cameron and Devin he was Great-Grandpa.
Raised in the shadows of the Great Depression, Chuck learned the values of hard work, resourcefulness, frugality, and appreciation for the land from his parents and the farming community of Moweaqua. The philosophy of "waste not, want not" remained with him throughout his life and influenced the way he approached family, work, gardening, and everyday living. Chuck was known for his creativity, strong work ethic, and commitment to family. He enjoyed gardening, growing tomatoes, sweet corn, squash, and flowers, rescuing geraniums, traveling, collecting walnuts from his travels, and sharing stories with family and friends. Chuck enjoyed visiting family and friends around the country. He loved the open road and preferred the scenic route whenever possible. He also enjoyed keeping up with current events, news, and politics and was always willing to share his thoughts and engage in a lively discussion.
His professional career included agricultural equipment and sales positions with Allis-Chalmers, Ariens, Yanmar, and other organizations. Along the way he developed lifelong friendships with farmers, coworkers, collectors, and enthusiasts who shared his passion for agriculture and equipment. Long after his working years ended, he remained connected to many of those friends through tractor collecting, restoration projects, farming discussions, museum activities, and gatherings that celebrated the people, equipment, and traditions he loved.
Chuck had a deep appreciation for faith, family history, and the stories of those who came before him. For more than 40 years, Chuck and his son Keith researched family roots, preserved family stories, and learned about the family's Irish, Scottish, German, and Swiss heritage. Together they visited ancestral churches and cemeteries in Southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. In several of those communities, early generations of the family opened their homes for worship services before churches were established and later helped support and build the congregations that became cornerstones of their communities. Chuck took pride in seeing these places firsthand, attending services, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the faith traditions that shaped generations of his family. A visit to the family's ancestral church in the village of Schoren, near Thun, Switzerland, by his granddaughter Amanda helped connect the family to its Swiss roots and revealed more than 300 years of family history, and provided another meaningful chapter in the family's continuing journey of discovery.
The family wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, the congregation of Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, his many friends in Del Webb, and the close family and friends who supported Chuck throughout his life.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley, Illinois.
Additional visitation will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church.
Military honors will be rendered in recognition of Chuck's service in the United States Army Reserve.
Memorials may be directed to Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, Operation Smile (providing cleft surgeries worldwide), and Heifer International (helping families through agriculture).
Arrangements are being coordinated through DeFiore Funeral & Cremation Service of Huntley, Illinois.
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
Chuck was a good friend of mine for over 65 years. We went to the same college, both worked for Allis-Chalmers, and lived in Del Webb. I will certainly miss his conservative views and opinions. He and Carol certainly raised their children to be caring and respective. Rest in peace Chuck when you're not driving your Allis-Chalmers D-21