August 21, 2024 was a warm but breezy day, the kind of day Chuck Rader would love to be out either tinkering in his shop or sitting on the deck enjoying the peacefulness of Harlan with his wife Vicki. This day was when this amazing and kind man's life would end and leave this world to start a new journey with the Lord. Chuck passed away peacefully in the early morning at his home in Harlan, surrounded by his wife Vicki, son Chris, and sister-in-law Peggy.
Charles Robert (Chuck) Rader was born on March 14, 1936 on his grandparents farm, Bertha (Purdy) and Charlie Atherton, south of Speed, KS. He was the first born child to Lloyd and Zelma (Atherton) Rader. Chuck started school at an very early age of one, as his mother was a teacher at a country school south of Speed and took him to school with her since she had no sitter. Chuck grew up on the family farm west of Kirwin and attended grade and high school in Kirwin. He married Cecile Power in 1956. To this union were born two children, Chris and Cheryl. The marriage ended in divorce and Chuck went to California where he became involved with his love of music.
Chuck returned to Kansas and worked for Beech Aircraft in Wichita. He later moved to Harlan, KS, where he began working for the railroad. He remarried twice more, with one marriage ending in divorce and the other in death of his spouse. He later married Vicki Steele on July 27, 1998 at Rader, MO. They made their home in Harlan for the remainder of Chuck's life.
Chuck continued his love of music from his early life up until shortly before his death. He played in a dance band around the Smith Center area and later, he formed a small unique band with area musicians, known as the Bow Creek Skunkrunners. The Skunkrunners became widely known for their fun loving antics and hillbilly dress. If you would attend an antique engine show in the area, the Skunkrunners would appear and be playing their bluegrass songs. The group still got together up until a few years ago, when illness and mother nature prevented further playing.
Chuck loved to travel and besides music, another of his loves was the Big Bend Area in Texas. Chuck and Vicki enjoyed their winters on their place there for many years. Chuck wanted to make Texas his final home, but that was not to be. He never tired of pulling jokes or making people laugh. He acquired a magnitude of friends throughout his life with his music and will be sadly missed by many.
Chuck is survived by his wife Vicki of the home; son Chris and wife Priscilla Rader of Salina, KS; sisters-in-law Peggy and husband Ken Hiatt of Pagosa Springs, CO; Kathy Steinke of Olpe KS; brother-in-law Terry Steele of Denison, TX; stepdaughters Jamie Roth of Phillipsburg, KS; Jenny Nichols of Holdredge, NE, and stepson Joe Lour of Grand Island, NE. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in life by his parents Lloyd and Zelma Rader, his daughter Cheryl, sister Glenda and mother and father-in-law Bill and Mary Steele.
A service and celebration of life will be held on September 4 at 10:30 at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg, KS, with close friend Carl Feril performing the service. Chuck loved Harlan and has lived there for over fifty years. He was a well known figure of the area and when you mentioned his name, there was always a story to tell among the locals. To keep his memory alive, memorials may be made to the Harlan HIstorical Society located in the old Harlan Church and/or NWKareS, the hospice service that cared for Chuck during his final days.