Charles Wayne Kearns died on April 22, 2025 at Logan Manor in Logan, Kansas. He was 94 years of age.

Charles was born on October 13, 1930, in Concordia, Kansas. He was the youngest child of Earl and Nettie Kearns. Charles joined the U.S. Army at age 17. His first duty station was at Fort Lewis, Washington where he worked in transportation. His first overseas assignment was on the island of Okinawa where he continued his work in transportation. He chauffeured officers, drove weapons carriers, wreckers, ambulances and tank receivers. Later in his military career, Charles hauled petroleum products, which he continued to do for the remainder of his career.

Charles met Darlene, his future wife, during a state-side visit to his parents who had moved from Concordia to Phillipsburg, Kansas. The couple planned to marry when Charles completed a final tour of duty in Okinawa but the military changed their plans. During one of his visits to Phillipsburg, Charles received a telegram which detailed his upcoming deployment to Korea. Although he promised Darlene they would marry as soon as he returned from Korea, Darlene proposed a different plan: the couple were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg on July 12, 1950, three days before Charles's deployment.

Charles was wounded severely several months after arriving in Korea. This occurred during the invasion of Seoul. Charles and several other soldiers were ambushed while attempting to evacuate villagers in advance of an upcoming U.S. bombardment. The immediate care he received at a nearby MASH hospital undoubtedly saved his life. Charles received subsequent medical care at hospitals in South Korea, Japan, pre-statehood Hawaii, California, and finally, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Charles was heavily medicated as he awaited surgery in a South Korean hospital. Recounting that hospitalization many years later, Charles said he thought he saw a beautiful woman dressed in white enter the medical ward. She sat on the edge of his bed and held his hand. Charles was convinced he had died- -or was about to die--and that the woman in white was an angel. He learned the next day that his angel was none other than Marilyn Monroe! Charles was awarded a Purple Heart in recognition of the wounds he received in Korea.

After his discharge from the hospital in Corpus Christi, Charles continued his military career at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was discharged from the Army in 1953. Charles and Darlene then moved to Phillipsburg with their infant son, David. But secure employment was hard to find. Prospective employers routinely doubted Charles's suitability for employment due to the injuries he sustained during the war. He worked a variety of part-time jobs to support his family and often worked several jobs at a time. Charles worked at a local hatchery, constructed ports-of-entry, repaired streets, and delivered eggs and dairy products. As he became increasingly pessimistic that he would find full-time employment, Charles was only days away from reenlisting in the Army when he was hired to deliver petroleum products for Tri-County Oil Company in Alma, Nebraska. Several years later, he accepted a similar position with Peake Oil Company in Chester, Nebraska. Charles worked out of Peake's newly-constructed terminal in Philipsburg. A truck driver his entire career, his final employer was James, Inc. in Phillipsburg.

Charles received numerous safe driver awards over the course of his career. In 1990, the Kansas Commercial Carrier Association named Charles the Kansas Driver of the Year.  Charles retired in 1992 after driving more than 3 million miles. After he retired he often left the driving to others. Charles would hand the keys to someone else while saying, "You drive, I've driven enough!" As he reminisced about his years behind the wheel, Charles was clearly proud of his varied driving experiences and the relationships he developed with his customers.

Charles enjoyed outdoor activities, especially hunting and fishing. He hunted many times in Wyoming and Colorado. He especially loved to reminisce about his hunting trips in Wyoming and the friends he made there. Wherever he was and whomever he was with, Charles always enjoyed long conversations and laughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents (Earl and Nettie Kearns), his sister (Ruth Rittel) and his brother (Ernest Kearns). His wife, Darlene, passed away in 2012. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage. Although Charles missed Darlene greatly, he continued to live proudly and independently until his move to Logan Manor Assisted Living in 2022. He transitioned to the Logan Manor Nursing Home in October of 2023.

Charles is survived by his son, David, of Iowa City, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews. Charles enjoyed the time he spent with two nieces in particular, Diana (née Rittel) Gering of Concordia and Kathi (née Kearns) Ebner of rural Speed, Kansas, Charles enjoyed Diana's telephone calls and periodic visits. Their conversations afforded opportunities for him to reminiscence about his early life in and around Concordia. Kathi reentered Charles's life when he entered Logan Manor Assisted Living. Charles greatly valued her emotional support and assistance.

Charles would view it a significant omission if three additional people were not mentioned: Donna (née Zillinger) Smith of Appleton, Wisconsin--a cousin of his wife Darlene--sent him cards and letters several times each year. Charles looked forward to these communications from a relative from Darlene's side of the family. He also remained close to Melany Jackson of Phillipsburg. A former neighbor, Melany helped Charles with various tasks in his later years. And Jayne Holle of Phillipsburg dutifully transported Charles to innumerable medical appointments over the years. As both his driver and a close friend, Jane contributed immeasurably to the quality of his life.

Charles was a modest man, a loving husband and father, and a devoted friend. A stroke in late 2023 robbed him of some speech clarity but it didn't silence him. Charles's love of good conversation and laughter persisted. He will be sorely missed by many. May God bless him.

Charles selected cremation and a private graveside service which will be held at a later date. If so desired, please consider a donation in Charles's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.