Charles Harris Gouveia, of New Berlin, IL passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family, on January 3rd, 2023 after several hospitalizations. He lived his life to the fullest, gave generously, is gone too soon and will be so missed by many! A celebration of his life will be held in early summer.

He is survived by daughter, Mary Annice Gouveia Riggs (husband, Randy) of Waco, TX; son, Charles Christopher Gouveia of Pekin; stepson, Kevin Kelly (wife, Debbie) of Glen Ellyn; stepdaughter, Kristine Weber (husband, Jason) of Wauwatosa, WI; grandchildren, Alyssa Marie Riggs; Isabella Jane Riggs; Charles Isaac Gouveia; Kaelob Scott Gebhardt; Leah Riggs Stone (husband, Austin); Katherine Riggs Sullivan (husband, Colby); Justin Kelly; Jared Weber and Kelly Weber; 4 great grandchildren, Truett, Abbott, Emmitt and Kayce; and sister, Annice M. Gouveia (husband, Chip) of Alto, NM.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dian Gochanour Gouveia and grandson, Alex Kelly.

He was born March 20, 1942, to proud parents, Annice Marie Harris Gouveia and Charles Russel Gouveia in Peoria, lovingly known to family as Chic. He attended Calvin Coolidge grade school, Roosevelt Junior High School and graduated in the Peoria Central High School class of 1960. He played trumpet in band, attended Westminster Presbyterian church and was very active in Scouts, earning the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. He went on to pursue his education at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he was crew/construction manager for University Theatre and a proud crow in the Alpha Chi Ro fraternity, as Vice President and later as an alumni board member. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Landscape Architecture.

Charlie started his first job as Assistant Landscape Architect of District 7 with the Illinois Department of Transportation in Effingham. In his new community,he became a member and trustee of the FirstPresbyterian Church, joined the Elks Club, served as assistant scout master and was a member of the Good Neighbors Club of Lake Sara. He organized, fundraised, engineered and constructed a public water system for 250,000 households as chair of the Lake Sara Services Coop. Additionally, he joined the Effingham Jaycees and held many offices including newsletter editor, VP and President and continued his Jaycee involvement on the region and state level as State VP, National Director and On-to committee continuously winning awards in all he did. He started attending US Jaycee National conventions in 1969 and became a part of the On-To committee which began years of family vacations planned around those locations, attending the meetings consecutively for decades! Before relocating, his local chapter presented him with his JCI Senatorship #18294. His proudest moments were both of his children, Mary Ann and Chris, being born in Effingham.

In 1974, he transferred to the IDOT offices in Schaumburg and resided in Lombard. He sought outthe Lombard Jaycees where he rose through the ranksagain as State Director, VP and became President, in addition to being a member of the Taste of Lombard and Fireworks committee/chair for many years and was presented with an Illinois Jaycee Ambassadorship. Never one to sit still, he was also a Lombard Park District Trustee, Lombard Lilac Parade committee member and chair, elder and trustee at Community Presbyterian Church of Lombard, YMCA board member and a YMCA Indian Guide with his son, Chris. He started his own business, Prairie State Landscaping to keep him busy with his kids on nights and weekends! He increased his involvement in the Illinois Senate becoming the Forum editor, serving as the 16th President, being inducted in the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame and with the USJCI Senate as Region 5 VP and Secretary, always winning awards of excellence. He and his daughter, Mary Ann, were the first father/daughter pair to be Lombard Jaycee Presidents and to be inducted into the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame, although a few years apart. While in Lombard, he met his soulmate, Dian and they married in 1987, blending the Gouveia and Kelly families.

Named as the Chief Landscape Architect of IDOT in Springfield in 1993, he and Dian resided in New Berlinand built a sanctuary of their own until her passing in 2000. He retired from IDOT after 36 years whileearning multiple awards and recognitions. Not one to ever be idle, he expanded his business to PSL Nursery, continued JCI Senate activities and as Forum editor - later Forum Editor Emeritus, joined the Springfield Elks club and reignited his passion of classic carsjoining several local car clubs and became known as Chas. He was the founder and chair of For the Birds/Central Illinois Classic Thunderbirds, Inc and chaired all 10 Trails End Car shows while making some great friends. He cherished being Boopa/Grandpa Charlie, loved spending time with his family and bragging on them to all who would listen. He enjoyedtraveling especially to car shows, tending his yard, pooland garden and of course, spoiling his dog, Chico.

Thank you to all the family and friends who visited, wrote, called and/or texted throughout his last several months, it brought him much joy! Also, special thanks for the care and compassion of Gentiva Hospice Springfield, especially Carol Lisa, Scott, Nicole and Toni.