Charles Louis Moore Sr

Charles Louis Moore Sr., age 86 of Hillsdale, Mich., and Naples, Fla., passed away January 7, 2015. He was born on February 13, 1928, in Salina, Kan., the fourth child of the late Alva and Gladys (Peterson) Moore.He attended Salina High School class of 1946 and Kansas Wesleyan University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict with the 67th Gun Battalion and was later stationed in Worms, Germany with the Seventh Army. In 1953, he returned to the U.S. and began his business career in Detroit, Mich., with the Michigan Inspection Bureau. Over a period of 15 years he worked for several insurance companies as a special agent; Commercial Union Insurance Company, Zurich Insurance Company, and Michigan Millers. In 1968 he purchased the W.D. Taylor Agency in Hillsdale, Mich. He later expanded operations to include offices in Adrian, Tecumseh, and Concord, Mich. Today, the business operates in Hillsdale and Concord as Moore Insurance Services, in Adrian, as the Adrian Insurance Agency, and in Tecumseh as Tecumseh Insurance Agency.While living in Grand Rapids he met his Swedish Flicka, Sonya Anderson, and she was his beloved and devoted wife of 57 years. The family has resided in Hillsdale for nearly 50 years.He is survived by his wife, Sonya, and seven loving children: Lisa (Steve) Smith of Oak Brook Ill., Laura (Gerard) Pannekoek of Chesterton, Ind., Charles Jr. of Adrian, Mich., Eric (Ginger) of Hillsdale Mich., Ingrid (Tom) Humphreys of Belding, Mich., Richard (Micha) of Hillsdale, Mich., and Roger of Fort Wayne, Ind. He leaves behind fifteen grandchildren and three bonus grandchildren: Charles Smith, Gerard and Catherine Pannekoek, Hannah, Gretchen, Lydia Humphreys, Alex, Mitchell, Carter Moore, Anders, Madeline, Peter, Annemarie Moore and Ella and Julia Moore, Ross (Michiko) Landers, Ruth (Joe) Gebhard and Gordon Landers.One brother, James (Lee) Moore of Dunwoody Ga., and two sisters, Florence (Thomas) McRae of Salina, Kan., and Gladys Helhorst of Kokomo, Ind., and many nieces and nephews also remain.He was preceded in death by his sister Velma Mae Leiker and brother and sister-in-law A. Lynn Moore and Mary Moore; Brothers and sisters-in-law Anders Hugo and Lorraine Anderson, Axel and Myrtle Anderson and Margaret Kristine Anderson and Robert Helhorst and grandson, Nicholas Peyton Moore.Charlie was active in a number of community and professional organizations. He was a lifetime Hillsdale Rotary Club member and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the board of directors for the Michigan Association of Independent Agents and was an instructor for continuing education in Insurance at Michigan State University. He was a longtime member of the Hillsdale Golf and Country Club, lifetime member of the Michigan State Alumni Association and a member of the Naples United Church of Christ. Charlie and Sonya are members of the President’s Club of Hillsdale College.Charlie was a devout fan of Michigan State University. Together he and Sonya enjoyed tailgating, playing bridge, tennis, traveling and antiquing. His other passions included reading, history, music and golf. On his 80th birthday Charlie joined the volunteer home building crew for The Habitat for Humanity. He and Sonya enjoyed winters in Naples, Fla. He adored his grandchildren and watching them excel in and out of the classroom.Charles was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his family. He possessed a wonderful sense of humor and positive outlook on life.Memorial services for Charles Moore were on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Naples United Church of Christ. A Celebration of Life and Interment will be held at a later date in Hillsdale, Mich. Local arrangements have been entrusted to VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home in Hillsdale.Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Hillsdale Rotary Club c/o Hillsdale County Community Foundation or the Naples United Church of Christ.