Charles Harper, 85, of Muscatine, passed away on Monday, May 24, 2021, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 28, 2021, at Ss. Mary Mathias Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chase Harper, Paige Harper, Ian Henriksen, Annabelle Henriksen, Nicole Harper, Allison Harper, Erica Henderson, and John Harp.
Visitation will be from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Melon City Bike Club. Online condolences may be made to www.wittichfuneralhome.com.
Charles was born on March 6, 1936, in Muscatine, the son of Clarence and Margaret Evelyn King Harper. He married Jean Alice Kutcher on April 21, 1956, at St. Mary’s Church in Muscatine.
Charles worked at Alcoa for many years. He then owned and operated Harper Cycling and Fitness for the last 55 years. In 1994, Charles and three friends cycled across the United States from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida.
Charles was a member of The Wheelemen where he served as Iowa Captain, the Knights of Columbus, and the Melon City Bike Club. He served on Muscatine Park and Recreation, Hoover Nature Trail, and the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Charles was involved and participated in RAGBRAI.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Jean Harper of Muscatine; his children, Deborah Blackburn and her husband, Sam, of Preston, Minnesota, Greg Harper and his wife, Karen, of Muscatine, Teresa Harp and her husband, James, of Polk City, Patricia Henriksen and her husband, Eric, of Muscatine, James Harper and his wife, Jonia, of Muscatine, and Bill Harper, and his wife, Carrie, of Muscatine; eight grandchildren; and his siblings, Elizabeth Casillas and her husband, Sergio, of Davenport, Mary Darting of St. Charles, Missouri, Joseph Harper and his wife, Rose, of Muscatine, Barbara Bockwoldt and her husband, James, of St. Charles, Missouri, Thomas Harper and his wife Mary, of Muscatine, and Dorothy Soppeland and her husband, Don, of LeClaire; and many nieces and nephews.
Charles is preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Al Darting; and two nephews, Kyle DeCoster and Giles Josyln.