Charles Burton Summers, son of Bernard Charles and Ethel Mae (Guss) Summers, was born on November 23, 1937 in Harlan, Iowa. Charles grew up and attended school in Harlan where he graduated from the Harlan High School with the class of 1956. While in high school, Charles started working with Mel Reid at Reid’s Body Shop. On October 2, 1960, Charles was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Judy Brace in Harlan. Two children were born to this union: Charlie, Jr. and Matthew.
In December of 1960, Charles was drafted into the United States Army and took his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri before being stationed for a year and a half at Ft. Hood in Killeen, Texas. After his honorable discharge, Charles returned to Harlan where he resumed working at Reid’s Body Shop until he started Summer’s Body Shop. In 1964, Charles began his love of racing stock cars where he raced throughout southwest Iowa. He was the track champion two years in a row at Corning. He raced for over twenty years until he had to stop due to his health He continued to build cars and work with several drivers for many years in Shelby and Crawford counties.
Charles also loved gardening, from planning it during winter to working in it in the spring and summer. He also had a passion for singing and belonged to a barber shop chorus in Denison for over twenty years. For many years, he camped with his family and friends almost every weekend during the summer. Charles and his many friends and relatives often took their motorcycles to Timber Ridge where they spent hours riding the acres and acres of trails.
After his retirement, Charles continued to make his home in Harlan and continued to support many of the local stock car drivers. He died at Alegent Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska on February 7, 2014 having attained the age of seventy-six years, two months and fifteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Judy Summers of Harlan, Iowa; sons: Charlie Summers, Jr. of Harlan and Matt Summers of Earling, Iowa; granddaughters: Carly Summers of Waukee, Iowa; Stacy Summers of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Emilee and her husband Steven Russell of Omaha, Nebraska; great grandchildren: Avery Summers, Jude Russell and Braxton Bagby; brothers and sisters: Jerry Summers and his wife Jane of Overgaard, Arizona; “Cookie” and her husband Verle Doonan of Audubon, Iowa; James Summers and his wife Pearl of Council Bluffs and Mary Ann and her husband Dale Kaven of Schuyler, Nebraska; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
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