Charles Gerhart Imm

July 10, 1928 – October 31, 2023

Charles Gerhart Imm left this earthly life to join his beloved wife, parents, and twelve siblings in Heaven on October 31st, 2023.  He lived a full, healthy life for all of his 95 years and will be missed dearly by his family and many friends.

Charles was born to Otto Frederick and Alma Radtke Imm on July10, 1928.  He was the youngest son of thirteen children on a dairy farm in Wausau, Wisconsin. They were a family of German/Luxembourg heritage.  He was Charlie to all of his family and friends and had a happy childhood.  He was a fluent German and English speaker.  He was an excellent student and strong athlete. He left Wisconsin to join the Army where he served for the next six and a half years.  While in the service, he became known as Larry, a name which stayed with him for the rest of his life, except with his Wisconsin family.

While serving at an Army base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he met the love of his life, Billie Jane Krueger, who was visiting friends.  They met in April of 1951 and married in her hometown of Highland Park, Illinois on July 7, 1951.  They were married for a little over 55 years until her death in August of 2006.  After his honorable discharge from the Army as a Sergeant in 1952, the couple made their life in Highland Park and raised their family, moving to the next town over, Deerfield, in 1972.

Charles started working for the Teletype Corporation which was a division of AT&T and stayed with them until his retirement as an upper level management director.  For many years, Charles worked for Manhart Landscape Company in Half Day, IL, as a side job. He honed his landscaping skills with them.  After retirement from AT&T, he worked as a consultant expert in buildings and grounds for major corporations all over the country.  He enjoyed those travels. He was known to say that his life goal upon marrying was to work hard enough to give his wife all the things that she never had growing up.  He succeeded in that goal.

They were avid travelers visiting England, Scotland, Switzerland, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy along with wintering often in Hawaii, Mexico, and Florida. In 1991, they moved from Deerfield to Lake Templene, Michigan.  Living on a wooded acre on the sprawling lake in their lovely home, they were hosts to many guests on a constant basis of friends and family.  Known for their party giving, they were gracious, generous, and kind to all.

Charles (Larry) was a strikingly handsome man standing six feet one inches of lean muscle.  Tall, dark, and handsome with his strong physique he cut an impressive figure.  He was a man of many skills and talents and did most everything that needed to be done with repairs, building, and upkeep himself.  He was very intelligent and was a top student at Northwestern University.

He was most known for his ready smile, warm inviting personality, and hearty laugh. He was generous to his family, neighbors, and friends and was always one to quietly jump in to help those in need. He was a beloved Uncle Charlie and Uncle Larry to his numerous nieces and nephews and had a strong fan club of his many friends and their children and grandchildren.

He always had a dog on his arm and a crossword puzzle nearby. He was a loyal Green Bay Packers fan. He was a constant reader and learner, always challenging himself to grow his mind. He played the accordion and piano and became an avid golfer in his retirement years. People were hesitant to play with him because he became such a successful player.  Charles was a devout Christian and a regular church goer.  At Redeemer Lutheran Church in Highland Park, IL, he was Council President and a frequent usher and Sunday School teacher.  He started every day reading the Bible.

In 2021, he moved to Port Orange, Florida and weathered getting hit by Hurricane Ian.  He survived and enjoyed the warm tropical weather.

Charles is survived by his two sons, Billy (Dorothy) Imm of DeKalb, IL, and Scott (Debbie) Imm of Mundelein, IL, his daughter, Renee Imm of Port Orange, FL, his grandson, Jacob (Marjorie) Imm of DeKalb, IL, and numerous nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.  He will be missed dearly by his many friends and their families.

A graveside service will be held at North Shore Garden of Memories in North Chicago, IL, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 12:00 noon, where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved Billie Jane with full military honors following. Local arrangements were entrusted to: Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815 )758-3841.