Charles (Chuck) Joseph Dees, 67

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Charles (Chuck) Joseph Dees, 67, died near Panama City, FL, on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, as a result of a single vehicle accident.

Visitation will be held Saturday, May 8, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church with Father Daniel Willenborg officiating. A private burial service will also be conducted. Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive is assisting the family.

He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1972. He started his professional photography career in the early 1970s, while in service to the U.S. Navy, as a still and motion picture photographer, and was assigned to make training programs for pilots and anti-submarine warfare technicians. 

After his military service, he attended Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL, where he studied multi-media communications. He also became an assistant instructor in the photography department there. Returning to Illinois in late 1979, he started his own business in Springfield, producing educational video tapes and restoring historic photographs with contracts for the State of Illinois, Lincoln Library and other clients. He also worked for the Illinois State Police doing public relations and crime scene photography. He most enjoyed his time as a public relations and wildlife photographer while working for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

He was passionate about evangelizing the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. He designed and built organic gardens for food pantries and taught classes in how to photograph and make videos of wildlife in nature. In his later years, he enjoyed traveling and meeting people and he looked forward to spending the winter months in Florida every year.

  Mr. Dees is survived by his brothers, Tim (Rochelle) Dees, Frank Dees, Bill (Meg) Dees and Denis (Susyn) Dees; and  several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his brother, Rick, and his parents, Roy and Betty Dees.