Chester "Chuck" L. Harkins

SIOUX CITY -- Chester L. "Chuck" Harkins, 75, of Sioux City passed away Friday, May 22, 2009, from complications following surgery at a local hospital.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Tess Panamarow officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery, with military honors by the U.S. Marines. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present at 6 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.

Chuck was born on Oct. 22, 1933, in McCook, Neb., to James and Esther (Hawkins) Harkins. Following his education, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on March 17, 1951, in Omaha. During his service, he received the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations and the National Defense Medal. Chuck received his honorable discharge on March 30, 1954.

He married Margaret F. Sottrel on April 25, 1954, in Flagstaff, Ariz. The couple moved to Sacramento, Calif., and to Sioux City in 1971. Chuck opened and operated Chuck's Upholstery in Morningside upon moving to town. He was featured in Hot Rod magazine a couple of times for his upholstery work on antique vehicles, and he reupholstered the benches in the Orpheum Theatre here in Sioux City. Chuck looked forward to drinking coffee with his friends on a regular basis.

Survivors include his daughters, Mary Gann, Kelly Clark and her husband, Guy and Dannette Harkins, all of Sioux City; grandchildren, Jenn Hagen, Sallie Gann, Christopher Gann, Katie Clark, Nicole Clark, Keith Ericsson and Jordan Clark; and great-granddaughter, Angel Rae Gann.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret in 997; and infant two sons, Daniel Thomas and Christopher Joe.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Gann, Jordan Clark, Butch Gordon, Don Woods, Chuck Hammack and Keith Shoemaker.