Chuck McCuen

C. R. "Chuck" McCuen, 78, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at the Henry County Health Center. According to Mr. McCuen's wishes, his body will be cremated. Visitation will be held beginning at noon on Saturday at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening. A memorial service will be held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kelly officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the First Presbyterian Church and Iowa Wesleyan College in his memory. Born September 19, 1927 in Plano, Iowa, Charles Robert was the son of Walter E. and Gladys Messerschmitt McCuen. On September 10, 1950, he first married Alice J. Barnes. On December 26, 1989, he married Judy Matheney. Mr. McCuen was a long-time community leader who retired after 35 years as the Chairman and President of Capitol Savings Loan, headquartered in Mt. Pleasant with 9 other locations throughout Eastern Iowa. He served as the Board Chairman of the Iowa Savings Loan League and First Central Service Corporation, as well as President of United Service Corporation, Capitol Mortgage Corporation, and Windsor Land Corporation. He was also a Director of Hawkeye National Life Insurance Company, Iowa Investment Corporation, and Iowa Business Growth Company. He graduated from Sigourney High School, Iowa Wesleyan College and earned a business graduate degree from Indiana University. His philanthropic and charitable activities included President of the Henry County Red Cross, Mt. Pleasant School Board, Mt. Pleasant Jaycees, and Kiwanis Club. He was a Board Member of the S.E. Iowa Symphony and was a Scoutmaster. He was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and Chairman of the Finance Committee to Fund Construction of the Church. He was heavily involved in leadership activities for Iowa Wesleyan College where he was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, as well as the I.W.C. Centurion Club. He was a longtime member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Alumni Association. He was a recipient the I.W.C. Alumni Merit Award and received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree. He also served as a Chairman of the Radio Free Europe Fund. Additional honors included a Distinguished Service Award as Henry County's Outstanding Young Man and an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army Chemical Motor Battalion and Counter Intelligence Corps. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club, Moose Lodge, and Elks Lodge. He was also an avid fan of local, collegiate, and professional sports. He will be missed by his wife, Judy McCuen; one son, Robert McCuen of Milwaukee, WI; one daughter, Mary McCuen, of Highlands Ranch, CO; 3 step-children and their spouses Brad and Stacia Matheney of Wentzville, MO, Jill and Robin Daniel, and Ryan and Sheila Matheney all of Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6 grandchildren, Allison and Quinn Daniel, Kurt and Trent Matheney, and Jordan and Nickolas Matheney; a brother-in-law David E. Noller; a nephew Jon D. Noller, and a niece Nancy Jones. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Gladys McCuen, and his sister, Jean Noller. Though an extended illness took his life, it could not take his enormous heart. Throughout his life, he gave unselfishly, and his generosity was experienced by many.