Charles "Chuck" Ray Willets, age 68, of Columbus, formerly of Lexington, died on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at his home.

Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, June 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus. Interment will be at the Columbus Cemetery with Military Honors by the #84 American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation was Tuesday and Wednesday at McKown Funeral Home with family prayer service at the church.   

Survivors include his wife Bonnie; daughter, Wendy (Troy) Shotkoski of Columbus; grandchildren, Emma and Spencer Shotkoski, all of Columbus; mother Katherine Willets, of Lexington; two sisters, Barb (Bob) Reynolds, of Lincoln and Sharlene (Tom) Hickman, of Woodland, Calif.; and brother-in-law, Mark Witthuhn of North Platte.   

He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Willets and his sister, Carolyn Witthuhn.   

Chuck was born on Aug. 16, 1939 in Lexington, to Charles and Katherine (Kumpf) Willets. He grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School in 1957. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 until 1965 then he continued his education at the University of California-Riverside, graduating in 1969.   

On March 18, 1972, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Michener in Columbus. Chuck worked for Dale Electronics in Columbus, Norfolk, and Yankton. He owned and operated Antelope Lanes in Neligh, and retired from Lindsay Manufacturing in 2002. He was employed at Precision Industries at the time of his death. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion where he served on the American Legion Honor Guard, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.   

Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.