Charles E. Bradshaw

Charles “Chuck” Bradshaw, age 97, passed away on December 20, 2025, at his home in Maryville, IL.  He was born on September 23, 1928, in East St. Louis, IL to Charles and Grace Bradshaw.

He worked on the N.F.W./Wabash R. R. in East St. Louis, Il as a foreman, was a truck driver for Coors and retired from FCB Bank in Collinsville, IL.  His life was devoted to his family and God.  He had an immense love for children.  He traveled with his brothers, Dan and Howard sharing The Gospel Puppets through children’s ministry.  He served as Sunday School Superintendent at United Pentecostal Church in Troy, IL for 20 years and maintained a bus ministry every weekend visiting children and taking them to Sunday School.  He always had tootsie rolls in his pockets and was known as the “Candy Man”.   He shared a marriage of 73 years with his childhood sweetheart, Mabel.  They had two daughters, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

Chuck had a very strong physical constitution.  He dug out the foundation for his basement (1st home), built on additions, and cut and hauled firewood.  He was the first to always help a neighbor, a friend or a stranger.

His garden was his pride, sharing its produce freely, and tilled it to the age of 95.  Some of his great joys were spending time with family at the lake house at Goose Creek. He enjoyed watching wrestling (the real stuff) with his grandsons, loved country music and Westerns. So much so, by 97, he could recite every line of Gunsmoke’s episodes!

He had such an expansive love for his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and they admired and respected him.  He was absolutely a “HERO” in the eyes of his daughter and Mr. Banks, man’s best friend.  Chuck always said, “you can tell a man by his handshake!” He lived his life by the Golden Rule and will be remembered as an honest man with integrity, a man of his word.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel; his daughter, Lois; his granddaughter, Natalie Hayden; his parents, Charles and Grace; and his siblings, Emma, Virginia, Loretta, Jerry, Bill, Danny and Sandra.

He is survived by his daughter, Denise Hayden; his grandson, Braden (Melissa) Littlefield; his granddaughter, Jennine Littlefield; his great grandchildren, Collin and Brea Littlefield, Avery Knese, Cash and Presley Nitzsche; his sister, Reverend Audrey Feigl; his brothers Bishop Howard Bradshaw and Daryl Bradshaw; a large number of nieces and nephews and vast numbers of friends and loved ones.

Denise wishes to thank his sister, Audrey, for her infinite devotion of love, care and devotion.  Denise’s sincere appreciation is extended to the Ardent Palliative Care Team of Tasha and Jennfier for their heartfelt compassion and excellent care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriner’s Children's Hospital and Ardent Palliative Care of O’Fallon.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Kassly Mortuary Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL.

Visitation will also be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL.

Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Kassly Mortuary Chapel, Fairview Heights, IL.

Interment will be in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.

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