Charles (Charlie) Dean Rayburn, 80, of Onalaska (Brice Prairie) passed away on Monday, November 23, 2020.  He was born on February 3, 1940 to Fred and Marion Rayburn in Peoria, Illinois.  He lived in Peoria until he was 15 and his family moved to the farm in Neillsville, Wisconsin.  He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1959, and that fall attended technical school in La Crosse, studying auto mechanics.  It was at this time that he met his future wife, JoAnn Hegy.  Charlie moved to Evanston, Illinois in 1960, and he worked at Scientific Products, but in 1961 enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  He was stationed on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk: an aircraft carrier that was stationed in the east Pacific.  In 1963, he got to see President John F. Kennedy when he came aboard.  In September, 1964, during his service on the Kitty Hawk, he married JoAnn in Trempealeau, Wisconsin.  They moved to Bremerton, Washington, then to San Diego, California, and returned to Evanston in 1966.  They moved to the Onalaska area in 1968 when he became the boiler plant maintenance man for St. Rose Convent and Viterbo University in La Crosse. He worked there for 37 years before retiring in 2006.  

The thing Charlie enjoyed most was spending time with his family, especially his sons and grandchildren.  He loved playing jokes on people, going for trips on the Black River, fishing, hunting, reading western books, taking road trips to anywhere, and riding his ATV.  He also enjoyed going out to eat, visiting with people, and a cold Dr. Pepper.  Charlie was a jack of all trades, fixing anything for anybody.  He had many great friends and there wasn’t a soul on earth that didn’t like him.  He treated everybody the same. It didn’t matter if it was the President or the garbage man.  

Charlie is survived by two sons Dean of Onalaska and Rick (Rhonda) of Onalaska, two grandchildren – Kaitlyn and Brock of Onalaska, two brothers Fred (Donna) of Glenview, IL and Dan of Pittsville, WI and one sister, Kathy of Watauga, TX and many extended family members.  

He is preceded in death by his wife JoAnn, parents Fred and Marion Rayburn, sister Barbara Rugg, and nephew Gary Rayburn.  Charlie’s family would like to thank the Mayo Hospital Hospice team, whose kindness and support were amazing.  

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 12 at The Gathering Place in Onalaska.  A visitation will be held from 10-11am.  A memorial service will be held at 11 am, but is limited to 75 people.