Charles A. Bindemann

Charles Alfred Bindemann, 86, died July 19, 2024 in his home after a brave battle with brain cancer.

A Celebration of Life will be held 10 am, Saturday, August 3 at Arch United Methodist Church, 56017 Ocean Wave Lane, Hannibal. with Graveside Services in Grand View Burial Park. Pastor Stacie Williams will lead the services. Visitation with the family will be 5-7 pm Friday August 2 at Arch UMC. Memorials may be made to The Hannibal Salvation Army or Arch UMC. Smith Funeral Home and Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Charles was born Jan 12, 1938 in Allegan, MI to Louis Frederic Bindemann and Alma Dorothy Schwab Bindemann. He was the youngest of 5 children.

He married Marilyn Louise Terry in Michigan on Jan 15, 1960. Two children were born to this union. Marilyn preceded him in death Aug 20, 2016.  He married Judith Barnes June 30, 2018. She survives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother Lewis Bindemann; a brother Frederick Bindemann; sisters Valerie Taylor and Carolyn Holms; infant granddaughter Rachel Bindemann; nephews Dale Orr Jr and Frederick Bindemann Jr; and niece Marilyn Orr.

Those left to carry on Charles’ memory and legacy are his daughter Diana (Charles) Malin, The Woodlands, TX; his son Alan (Stephanie) Bindemann, Springboro, OH and step-son Ken (Timi) Barnes, Jefferson City, MO.

Also grandchildren: Sarah (Taylor) Young; Hannah Malin; Alex Bindemann (and fiancé Haley Scott); and Mason Bindemann.  Inherited grandchildren include Kayla Barnes; Zachary Barnes (and fiancé Emilee Nelsen); Caleb (Becca) Skaggs; Allison (Frank) Muhlhauser; Micah Kennedy and Daniel Mosley.  And a fourth generation that calls him “Great Charley” includes Sunny Skaggs; Scarlett Barnes; and Addilyn, Franklin, and Madison Muhlhauser.

And nieces: Deena Karson (and partner Bill Jackson); Suzanne (Richard) Kelly; Lisa (Ray) Jarrell; and Eva Terry. He also was blessed with many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

People holding a special place in his heart include David and Kim Erskine; Madeline, Trinity and Levi (Hannah) Erskine; Liliana (Harrison) Caples; Iris Caples; and his beloved cat, Pizza who was his constant companion through his illness.

Charley had many hobbies and interests that kept him active. He was an accomplished woodworker; a movie buff; a lover of classical music; and well read on history, especially WWII.  He spent many hours sailing on Mark Twain Lake with his First Mate, Marilyn. He enjoyed playing Chess. Charley was known as an avid runner and cyclist. He rode his bicycle to work for decades and the past several years was well known at the YMCA where he joined with the very early morning patrons to ride a bike 10 miles almost every day.  Charley enjoyed doing his own yard work, landscaping, and lawn mowing, insisting no one else did it to his standards.

Charles was a United Methodist Lay Speaker for 22 years. He served Florida UMC for 18 years as Lay Pastor. He also served Stoutsville UMC and other churches in the Northeast MO area. It was his honor over the years to assist in presiding over funerals and weddings of his congregants; and he was loved by those he served.

He served numerous leadership and committee roles in the churches he was a member of over the years. He helped with youth group activities, led Bible Studies and Sunday School Classes, participated in Choir and did whatever he could to support the ministries.

He was most recently a member of Arch United Methodist Church in Hannibal.

Charles was always working throughout his life. In his youth he took various jobs including digging & selling fishing worms; delivering newspapers on his bicycle; sales clerk in a hardware store, a men’s emporium, a drug store, grocery store, florist; was a theater usher; brick layer assistant; and more. He then began his career in the tubular heating element manufacturing business. He worked for Heatube Corporation in Allegan, MI and Albion, MI relocating to Macon MO in 1965. During this time Charles completed a degree in Metallurgical Engineering Technology from International Correspondence School (ICS).

In 1971 he left Heatube to help start the Hannibal, MO Watlow plant.

In 1979 Charles and Marilyn Bindemann, Roger Guyer, and Walt Tokarz started AccuTherm in an old gas station on Lindell Avenue in Hannibal with 5 employees. While growing steadily, the business relocated twice in Hannibal. Because of the flood of 1993 the manufacturing plant moved to Monroe City in 1995. At the time of his retirement in 2008 AccuTherm employed 110 people.

After retirement he continued as a part-time consultant to those who valued his expertise of 52 years in the industry.

Charles served as a city councilman in Hannibal from 1977 -1985. During that time he served on the Finance Committee, Police Board, Board of Public Works, and served as Mayor Pro Tem for 4 years. While his 1986 bid for Mayor was unsuccessful, he brought attention to the pressing needs of the community.

Charles also served his community with terms on the YMCA Board of Directors; the Salvation Army Advisory Council; and the Hannibal Regional Hospital Patient Advisory Committee.  He was a former member of Kiwanis and a long time active member of the Hannibal Rotary Club.

Charley was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Always quick with a joke or humorous story, he cared deeply about his family, friends, co-workers, and church congregants.  He was always ready and willing to mentor and support others with his expertise developed over his many years in business, family life and ministry which was an outcome of his love for his Lord and for people.

Online condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed on Charles' memorial page at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com