Charles "Chuck" R. Johnson

Charles "Chuck" Ray Johnson, 64, of Bartonville, Illinois, died Tuesday, January 18, 2022, in Hudson, Florida. Born Dec. 29, 1957, in Peoria to Robert Lewis Johnson and Norma Jean Johnson. On Feb 13, 1982, he married Carolyn French. They met in 1979 and shared 43 wonderful years together. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Joyce Johnson Maxey, his brother Frank Johnson, and his niece Jeana Scrivner. He is survived by his son Charlie and daughter in law Tiffany Johnson and their children Owen and Reagan. His surviving siblings are Janet McDonald, Robert Johnson, and Joni Johnson; and lots of nieces and nephews that he adored. Chuck graduated Limestone High School one semester early in 1976 went on to attend the School of Hard Knocks with degrees in welding, mechanics, and building tow trucks. He founded Chucks Towing in 1979. Chuck sold his pickup to buy his first tow truck that he made into a nice blue tow truck and proudly dedicated it to his father calling it "Dad's Dream". He later honored his mother by naming another truck "Norma Jean". He also built a classic 1948 Chevrolet truck and dedicated it to his bride by naming it "Carolyn". It was very special to Chuck and Carol. He became a master of towing difficult vehicles such as fire trucks, garbage trucks, police vehicles, paddy wagons, small airplanes, huge airplanes, helicopters, semi- trucks with or without trailers, mobile homes, motorhomes, sheds, little safes, big safes, bobcats, excavators, backhoes, road graders, bull dozers, and anything you could think of. There was no challenge too great. He and his wife would often laugh, saying "We started out in business by towing a stolen car. Some kids broke down and had us tow it to our shop." The police arrived at the shop first thing the next morning. Chuck had some explaining to do. He would love to come home and tell stories about all the things that happened during the work day. One night he said, "Today an old brick road on up on the bluff in Peoria started to collapse. There was a huge fire engine sitting right on top of it. All the firemen stood watching him as he was sweating bullets. One wrong move and that fire truck would have gone rolling sideways down to the bottom of that hill." He was able to recover that very expensive fire truck. He said he was so focused that he didnt even know all these firemen were standing there watching, until the job was done and he heard them all applauding, whistling and yelling compliments. He loved skiing, drag car racing, boating, stock car racing, and traveling in his motor home. He always loved a good auction. But most of all he loved helping people. Chuck was a member of the Lions Club, Peoria Boat Club, Farmington Sportsmans Club and was a school board member at Hollis Grade School. He was a mentor to many, a father figure to several, and a friend to all. To know him was to love him. Chuck was very wise and always shared his knowledge with anyone that asked. He loved helping people to learn the towing business, and even helped others to go into business for themselves such as Dan Greer of Ace Auto Parts in Peoria and Greg Russell of Chucks Towing in Hudson, FL. He always said "there is room for all of us, big and small." Chuck and Carol sold Chucks Towing to their nephew Chad French in 2016 to carry on the family business. After working his butt off for nearly 40 years, he finally took some time off and traveled the USA with his wife in their motor home and staying in their Florida house. Even well into retirement, his phone still rang constantly and he answered it every time in a cheery voice, day or night, "Chuck, can I help you?" He had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren, Owen and Reagan and of course his son Charlie. Nothing can make a parent prouder than when their child is a happy, successful, good person. Charlie always made him so proud when people would tell him how polite and professional that Charlie carried himself. A visitation will be held at Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory in Pekin, IL on Friday, January 28th from 4pm to 7pm, the family request casual attire be worn. There will be a honorary tow truck parade that will travel through Peoria, Bartonville, and Pekin, starting at 9:30am Saturday the 29th on Water Street in Peoria, with a funeral service at 11am at Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory. A luncheon will be held at Rabers Banquet Hall on Farmington Rd at 1pm. Memorials may be directed to the Chuck and Carol Johnson Scholarship Fund for Industrial Trades. Funeral Service Saturday, January 29, 2022 11:00 AM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,Illinois 61554 Visitation Friday, January 28, 2022 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,Illinois 61554