Charles Claude Ulfig Iii

Memorial Mass for Charles C. Ulfig III, 51, of Coal Valley will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2004, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Coal Valley. Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Burial will take place prior to mass in Coal Valley Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross Organ and Tissue Services. Mr. Ulfig died Wednesday, February 11, 2004, at Genesis Medical Center East Campus, Davenport, Iowa, after a lengthy illness. Charles C. Ulfig III was born October 29, 1952, in Urbana, Illinois, the son of Charles C. Ulfig, Jr. and Patricia Bradshaw Ulfig. He married Mary Ellen Clow March 20, 1982 in Coal Valley. A graduate of Rock Island High School and Black Hawk College, Charlie graduated with honors from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana in 1979, and received his MBA from Syracuse University in 1999. He was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma honor society at Syracuse and received the American Society of Military Comptrollers Research award. An Army veteran, Charlie served as Bandsman in the 1st Division Band, playing tuba. Music was always an important part of his life. He began his musical career at the age or three or four, playing in the Pontiac Municipal Band. As a youth, he belonged to Sing Out and toured with Up With People. He also played bass guitar with several local country rock bands over the years, and he and Mary enjoyed attending rock concerts and music festivals. He was an accountant for the Department of Army since 1983, most recently serving as Resource Program Specialist with the Army Field Support Command at Rock Island Arsenal. He last worked in October 2003. Charlie will be fondly remembered for his quick sense of humor, his intelligence and broad knowledge, his friendly nature, Santa hats, and snickerdoodles. He enjoyed his cats (Polly and Pete), the Fighting Illini and Chicago Bears, gourmet cooking, Halloween, golf, and quiet evenings in front of the TV. Survivors include his wife and parents; a sister, Cathi (Carl) Fetzner; brothers, Brad (Ruth) and William (Helen) Ulfig; stepdaughter Ellen (Ric) Clow; stepsons Ed (Nancy), Jimi and Tom (Barb) Clow. "Grandpa Charlie's" step-grandchildren include Mary Jo Thomas, Matt (Stephanie) Brown, Michael, Adam (Jennie), Matt and Kelly Mitchell, Amanda (Michael) Frietsch, Nichole and Monica Rush, Jennifer, Elaine, Will, Emily, and Jim Clow. Great-grandchildren include Clayton Thomas, Annika and Riley Brown and Marita Frietsch. Charlie was dearly loved by his nieces, Laura and Heidi Fetzner, Jamie and Mandy Claeys and Kayla Ulfig, and by his nephews, Brandon (Sherri) Ulfig and Nick and Eric Fetzner. Tyler and Tevror Ulfig and Sydney Leslie will hear much about their great-uncle over the years. An aunt, Shirley Gillette, and uncle, Jim Ulfig, also survive, as do a sister-in-law, Kathy McCabe, a great-aunt, cousins and countless friends. His grandparents and a great-grandson, McLain Thomas preceded him in death. He was a good guy.