Charles Edward ‘Chuck’ Radel
Charles Edward ‘Chuck’ Radel, age 80, of Quincy, died on Sunday, October 19, 2025 in his home. He was born on November 6, 1944 in Keokuk, IA, the son of Edward W. & Lilah Ruth (Carlisle) Radel. He married Geraldine ‘Gerry’ Fitzgerald on June 11, 1966.
Chuck grew up on a farm near Nauvoo, IL. He graduated from Nauvoo-Colusa High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Quincy University and where he also met his future wife, Gerry. He received his Master’s Degree from Western Illinois University. He also did graduate coursework in school administration from other schools over the years.
Chuck was a history teacher at Quincy Junior High School. He then became the Director of Transportation for the Quincy Public School District. He was later the Assistant Principal at Quincy Junior High School. He served the Quincy Public School District for 33 years.
Chuck believed in offering his students memorable educational experiences. Chuck organized canoe trips to the Current River. He is well remembered for leading over 30 student trips to the Quetico Provincial Park for camping and canoeing in Ontario, Canada. He also lead the Eighth Grade Washington DC trips.
Chuck enjoyed the management of the Radel family farms along with his sister Pegi. He enjoyed historical reading and research, national and local news. Chuck was instrumental in the creation of the Quincy portion of the Looking for Lincoln Waysides. He was the local representative to the statewide Looking for Lincoln committee for many years. He was active in and was a past president of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County. While president for a two-year term of the Historical Society, he spearheaded the creation of the History Museum on the Square. He was also involved in the creation of the Lincoln Gallery. Chuck enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts with his son and grandson Eddie. He enjoyed canoeing and camping. Chuck was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church.
In addition to his wife, Chuck is also survived by:
HIS CHILDREN: Thomas ‘Ted’ Radel and his wife Julie and Patricia ‘Tricia’ Radel.
GRANDCHILDREN: Joseph Radel and Edward ‘Eddie’ J. Radel and his wife Toni, and their expected infant.
SIBLINGS: Mary Margaret ‘Pegi’ Langan and her husband Bill; Patricia ‘Pat’ Bradbury and her husband Rev. Charles.
Sisters in law and a brother in law: Lenore Radel, Dr. Victoria Fitzgerald and Thomas ‘Tom’ Fitzgerald and his wife Rosemary.
Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives also survive.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and his brother David Radel.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 10:30 in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and at 11:00 AM in St. Peter Catholic Church.
Interment in St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Nauvoo.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, St. Peter Catholic Church, Quincy; St. Peter and Paul Church in Nauvoo or to Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
My sincere sympathy to Chuck’s family. I have so many wonderful memories of him as a neighbor, as well as accompanying him on one of those canoe trips into Canada.
My cousin Chuck was a very nice man with a great sense of humor.
Mr Radle kindled a life long love for learning and experincing history, he could never know how important his influence on was!
Uncle Chuck will be dearly missed by so many people. Our families lived far away, but I recall as a child that I always enjoyed chatting with Chuck during our Radel get-togethers. He was always very conversational and enjoyed a good joke.
Chuck continued to share his passion for puns and history with me well into my adulthood, as I could regularly expect jokes and articles sent to me via Facebook during the week. Since I share many of his same interests, it was fun to get these little notes.
I recall with fondness when Chuck and Gerry visited my wife and I not long after we were married in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. With his huge RV and camera in tow, Chuck enjoyed exploring the history of the town and made me a CD of his photos before he left. It was so nice of them to visit.
Blessings to all as we mourn Chuck’s passing.
My late husband, John & I knew Chuck through our connection with the Historical Society and later with his support of the Log Cabin Village. Chuck included the Village in Jr. High tours of historical areas and was supportive. We admired and respected Chuck. Condolences to the family.
It was an honor and my privilege to meet Chuck many years ago when he decided to bring young men and women to “Quetico” in Canada. Over all those years, we worked closely together and my admiration for him grew immensely! It took a huge amount of planning, organizing and hard work. Chuck was also a visionary; he inspired those around him to share his goals and his enthusiasm was contagious. His life has been one of “service to others” and though he has passed, his memory lives with so many of us.
If you had Mr Radel as a teacher you remember a wonderful teacher and sweet guy. He will be missed. Thank you for teaching me so many things.
It is hard to express the sadness I felt when I heard the news of Chuck’s passing. Once I saw what Chuck was doing for the kids of Quincy, I had to get involved. His extra curricular activities/field trips impacted thousands of kids and I feel fortunate that he took me under his wing and allowed me to be a part of his vision to instruct kids and give them experiences they would have never had. What a kind, gentle, committed person he was and I feel fortunate to have known this extraordinary educator and even better person! Thanks for all you did for me, Chuck.
Mike Hayes
My family and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Chuck, he was our neighbor growing up on Gary Grove (Marilyn and Earl Myers are my parents) and my mother as well as my twin sons enjoyed their trips to the Quetico. They still to this day talk about seeing bears and the huge fish that they caught! The fact that my mother accompanied them was a shock to our entire family as she is terrified of water she cannot stand up in but Chuck made certain she was in a canoe of experience. Thank you for all the wonderful memories you provided to all the young men and women who you took under your wing to show them how amazing nature can be. May God provide you with the strength required in the days ahead and may your many wonderful memories provide you with comfort. RIP Mr. Radel!
Mr Radel was my favorite Jr high teacher. I knew that he cared about his students. He was a big reason that I became a teacher. He will be missed.
I worked briefly with Chuck back in the late 1980’s, and I still remember what a sweet and gentle person that he was.
My condolences to the family – may your favorite memories bring you comfort.
Chuck was the kind of friend who opened doors to the past. He enjoyed helping people discover that history is not a dry collection of dates but opportunities to know and care for those who came before us. He found joy in every old letter and faded photograph. Chuck gave those who were privileged to know him a wonderful gift: the understanding that history connects us, heart to heart, across the ages. We’ll miss his inspiration.
Mr Radel was one of my favorite teachers. He was such a nice and happy person. He will be missed.
A true friend, my bicycling, scouting, canoeing companion, you will be missed my friend!
One of my favorite Jr High teachers. He made it fun!!
Gerry, Ted,Trish and families-
We’re so sorry for your loss. I’ll never forget all his corny jokes, trips to Washington DC, current river, Canada, the classroom, student council and finally the bus barn. He was always a kind and compassionate man. Thanks for being such a great friend and mentor. He WILL be missed!
I will miss Chuck’s “dad jokes”! What a great loss.
I knew Chuck as a teacher, worked with him when he was Director of Transportation and AP at QJHS. He was kind and passionate about his working with students and staff. I will always remember our long conversations on the way to WIU for classes. I will always remember the last trip to the Quetico. You touched many people thoughout your life. RIP CANOEMAN.
The class of 1989 remembers Mr. Radel well. I never had the pleasure of learning from him as a student. However, he was a great administrator when I first became a teacher. His gentle spirit was such a light to all.
I was privileged to be a student in jr high history class with chuck. He had the ability to make history fun and interesting and thus developed my love for history. I was blessed to travel with Chuck on several adventures into the Canadian wilderness of the Quetico. Those trips have formed friendship bonds that are still my dearest friends and fondest memories. His quirky jokes and humor and love of storytelling became a lifelong continued anticipation over the computer. These continued posts always put a smile to my day and a continued urge for historical adventures and travel with friends. I for one will miss this travel buddy and mentor. Truly a caring and giving individual to our youth and community! Quincy has truly lost one of its best preservationist of our history and the importance of its continued future. See you at the end of the portage with camera, blueberry pancakes, musk oil, campfire and some new jokes! R.I.P. canoeman❣️🥾🫎🦫🦝🦟🛶🏕️🌌🇨🇦
Mr. Radel was our son’s teacher years back. He went on some of those trips he planned. Know he was very active with his students and a very likable person. He will be missed.
I am saddened to learn of Chuck’s passing. I worked with Chuck and the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum Advisory Board for several years. I appreciated his passion for Lincoln history and attention to detail in the multiple projects on which we collaborated. My thoughts are with Chuck’s family and friends. He will be missed.
Wow, coming up on 48 years (summer of 78). What kind of crazy persons takes 24 fourteen year old’s 900 miles for a week of wilderness canoeing and primitive camping, for their vacation? As a teenager you can’t possibly comprehend the effort or the amount of responsibility that this person has taken on, to give you what will be a life experience. Certainly a level well beyond even being a great teacher. Thank you Mr. Radel.