Charles Victor "Charlie" Breeze, 90, of Mattoon, passed from this life at 11:13 p.m. Monday, December 17, 2007, at his residence. Funeral services in tribute to his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 22nd, at the Schilling Funeral Home with Captains William and Heather Holman officiating. Burial with Military Honors by the V.F.W. Post 4325 will follow in Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Charlie was born April 4, 1917, in Mattoon, a son of Charles D. and Leslie (Ross) Breeze. He married Mary Jane Mitchell on May 24, 1941. He went to be with his sweetheart, "Honey," who six weeks prior preceded him in death. Survivors include his five children: son, Charles James Breeze and wife Rosemary of Marshfield, Missouri; daughter, Mary Lou Bonesteel and husband Robert of Villa Park and their children, Robert M. Bonesteel and wife Pamela of Chicago, Timothy A. Bonesteel of Affton, Missouri, and Kristina Bonesteel and husband Michael (Bear) Swanson of Suwon, South Korea; son, Victor Eugene Breeze and wife Debra and their children, Jordan Leigh Breeze and Nathan Ross Breeze, all of Mattoon; daughter, Charlene I. Hale and husband Mickey of Decatur and their son, Michael F. Hale of San Francisco, California; daughter, Cathy A. Dallas and husband Doug of Mahomet and their children, Danae A. Lehman and husband Steve of Bloomington, Ryan D. Dallas and wife Billie of Urbana, Joshua L. Dallas, Matthew C. Dallas, and Andrew W. Dallas, all of Mahomet; seven great-grandchildren, Isaac, Eli, and Eva Lehman, Emma, Ellie, and Erin Dallas, and Andrew Hale Barnett; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his son, Billy Wayne Breeze; brothers, Garland, Beryle, Bill, and Paul Breeze; and his sister, Dorothy Beldon. Charlie worked for twenty-seven years at the Kuehne Furniture Company. He was a retired machinist from Anaconda, which became Anamet. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and was part of the D-Day Invasion at Normandy Beach, France, for which he was presented with many awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the Purple Heart, and Bronze Star. Charlie was a direct descendant of Betsy Ross. He was a member of The Salvation Army, where he was a volunteer of the League of Mercy and a member of the Men's Club and a Boy's Club leader. He was also a member of American Legion Post 88, Sentinel Club, and volunteered for Mattoon Senior Center, Boy Scouts of America, and performed the Good Time Charlie Magic Shows. His hobbies included woodworking, playing pool, and golfing. Charlie's priorities were his family and making people smile, as he often said, "If I make one person smile a day, I am overpaid". Memorial gifts in his honor are suggested to The Salvation Army or Mattoon Senior Center.
Published in the Journal Gazette & Times-Courier on 12/19/2007.