Charles “Charlie” Richard Beard, 79, of Pleasant Hill, IA, died July 28, 2026, surrounded by family, after a very brief illness.

Avid angler. Music lover. Foodie and chocolate aficionado. Industry expert. Bird watcher. Amateur chef. Community leader. Father. And, most of all, loving husband to Lee, his wife of 45 years, who preceded him in death by a just few short months.

Charlie (also known at various times in his life as Chuck and Chas) was a giant of man, literally and figuratively. At 6-foot-7, he towered over nearly everyone and had a booming voice and personality to match.

He was born in Whittier, CA, on Aug. 23, 1946, to Mary Evelyn “May” (Elliott) Beard and William Raymond “Ray” Beard. The family ultimately moved back to May’s home state of Iowa, where Charlie and his brothers, Will and Jim, were raised. Charlie played various sports, including varsity basketball at Valley High School in West Des Moines.

As a young adult, he attended Grand View Junior College and Drake University, worked, married and divorced. As he eased into his 30s, he was reacquainted with high school classmate Lee Ann Winberg, who would become the love of his life.

Charlie is survived by daughter Emily (Jack) Beard McCauley of Indianola, IA; stepdaughter Ashley (David) Hamershock of Colorado Springs, CO; stepson Josh Grant of Waukee, IA; multiple grandchildren and brother Will. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and brother Jim.

After marrying, Lee and Charlie moved to Texas, where they danced in honky tonks, fished and enjoyed getting to know each other again. A few years later, they returned to the Des Moines area, where they settled down stayed for nearly a decade. Once Ashley and Josh had graduated from high school, they moved a couple of times for Charlie’s job, eventually landing in the beautiful town of Berlin, WI.

There, they planted roots near the Fox River and stayed for nearly a quarter century. Charlie served as general manager for National By-Products, which eventually became Darling International. He also volunteered on numerous local and national boards, including the National Renderers Association, as well as the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, Berlin Water and Sewer Commission, Berlin Planning Commission and Berlin Park and Recreation Commission.

When he was preparing to retire in 2006, the local newspaper wrote a sprawling feature about him. The first line? “Probably no individual has made as big an impact on Berlin’s civic, industrial and political scene in nine short years as Charlie Beard…”

In his retirement, he and Lee fished and traveled, visited and hosted family, and watched birds from their back deck. And after decades of Lee’s casseroles, Charlie took over most of the cooking. He amassed quite the spice collection and spent many hours each week trying new recipes and creating his own. “Get out of my kitchen!” he would holler with a wink when he was preparing dinner, usually flanked by a glass of good bourbon on the rocks.

Lee’s health had declined a bit in the last few years, prompting them to move back to the place of their youth — Des Moines — one last time to be closer to family.

Here’s to you, Charlie... We love you and know your beloved Lee was waiting for you in Heaven. Hope the fish are biting…

An informal gathering to honor Charlie will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 3-4:30 pm in the private dining room at Copper Shores Village, 1500 Edgewater Dr., Pleasant Hill, IA. It will be open house style -- stop by anytime during that window to share stories and enjoy some chocolate, in honor of Charlie. Remarks around 3:45 pm.