Charles Reisenbigler

Charles James Reisenbigler, 81, of Peoria, Arizona went to be with his Lord on 11/22/2011, fully healed and whole again. Charles was the beloved husband of Mary Lou (Blean) and father of Chris Alan Reisenbigler and Tracie Ann Reisenbigler. Charles was born on May 14, 1930 in Erie, Illinois; the oldest child of Robert and Hertha Reisenbigler. He lived the first 28 years of his life in Illinois and Iowa before moving to Arizona in 1959. He worked for Goodyear Farms in the accounting department for 4 years, and then moved to the Goodyear Aerospace Accounting Department where he spent the next 30 years working, as he liked to say, as a “bean counter”. He lived in Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear and finally Peoria, where he began his second career “farming”. Charles had always wanted to be a farmer but life didn’t quite give him exactly what he wanted. Always one to figure out how to make something happen, at the age of 42, he began his life’s dream on 6 acres of land. He grew flowers, vegetables, and fruit; and even raised Black Angus cattle, along with poultry, pigs and sheep. He had a green thumb and more ideas than money, but always managed to make things work. After retiring in 1989, he spent time enjoying the aspects of farming, but later that year a health problem ultimately forced him to make the tough decision to sell the farm in 1991, moving the family to “town”. After living several years in Sun City, he moved to the north Peoria area where he continued growing fruits, vegetables and flowers in his backyard oasis. Because of the complications of diabetes, his health slowly deteriorated over the last several years, until he was hospitalized in September. He spent 10 weeks fighting off one “speed bump” after another in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, before finally passing away after a long and courageous battle. His legacy will continue in his son Chris, who has inherited his love of growing things; and in his daughter Tracie, who shared his love of the Chicago Cubs as well as any and all sports. He leaves his wife, Mary Lou, son Chris, his daughter Tracie, daughter-in-law Cyndi, and three wonderful grandchildren – CJ, Daniel and Makayla – all of whom he loved dearly. He will be missed.