Charlice Rosena Offenheiser

Charlice Rosena H. Offenheiser, 93, of rural Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, at her home with her family close by her side. Born February 11, 1932, in Freeport, Illinois, the daughter of Louis H. and Lavina (Groezinger) Haug. Charlice grew up on their Derinda farm, attending the one-room school in Derinda Center before going to Elizabeth High School. She spent her last two years at Stockton High School, where bus service was offered to the area, and graduated in 1950. She then received a two-year business degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1952.

Charlice married Melvin L. Offenheiser on December 23, 1955, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Derinda, officiated by Rev. Henry Grishkowsky. Melvin passed away on January 21, 1992. She later married Robert E. Broyles of Missouri on April 13, 1996, also at Trinity Lutheran Church. He preceded her in death on April 23, 2010. Growing up, Charlice was active in Rural Youth and Luther League. She enjoyed ice skating and roller skating, and she continued skating long enough to chaperone her children’s school roller skating parties.

Charlice worked at Micro Switch in Freeport, Illinois, until family and farm life took over when Leslie was born. Together, Charlice and Melvin were true partners in farming, raising registered Guernsey cattle that came from her father’s herd under the Derinda Guernsey Farm prefix. They also raised beef cattle and crops. One of Charlice’s greatest points of pride was when Melvin was awarded the 1990 Master Farmer Award by Prairie Farmer Magazine. After Melvin’s death, Charlice “retired” from farming but continued to help at Offenheiser Farms, finding joy in seeing the next generation of farmers grow.

Charlice was an active and lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Derinda. She served on the Church Council, as Church Treasurer, in WELCA with various offices, and as a Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, and choir member. In the community, Charlice served on the Elizabeth School Board and later the River Ridge School Board (1969–1987), the Jo Daviess County Board (1994–2000), and the County Zoning Commission. She was a member of the Highland Community College Foundation Board, Lutheran Social Services of Northwest Illinois (LSSI) Advancement Council Committee, and the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA).

Promoting agriculture was Charlice’s passion. She served on numerous committees, including Illinois Agri-Women, the Association for Home & Community Education (HCE), Northwest District and Illinois Guernsey Association, Swiss Valley Gals, Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, Jo Daviess County Extension Council, 4-H Advisory Committee, and as both a 4-H Club Leader and a proud 4-H Mom. Despite their busy schedules, Charlice and Melvin loved ballroom dancing, attending the theater, and enjoying community fairs and concerts. Most of all, they cherished time with their family. Later in life, Charlice became an avid sports fan, never missing her grandchildren’s games and cheering for local teams on the radio and in the newspapers.

Charlice is survived by her children: Leslie Yardley of Rockford; Brent (Kay) Offenheiser of Elizabeth; Gretchen (Hubert) Rankin of Atlanta, Illinois; Grant (Donna) Offenheiser of Elizabeth; and Warren (Tracy) Offenheiser of Elizabeth. Her grandchildren include: Aaron Yardley, Brandon Offenheiser, Alyson (Offenheiser) Young, Wesley Offenheiser, Shaun Offenheiser, Laura Rankin, Michael Offenheiser, Rachel (Offenheiser) Taylor, Daniel Offenheiser, Emily Offenheiser, With the marriage of Brent and Kay in 2003, Nathaniel Hoftender, and Tayler Meniguin. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Patricia Haug; 7 nieces; and 3 nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, her father- and mother-in-law Oscar and Beryl (Finkenbinder) Offenheiser, her brother Harlan Haug, her sister-in-law Ruth (Jahugh) Morgan, brothers-in-law Eugene (Sharon) Offenheiser and Gerald (Kay) Offenheiser, 1 niece, and 2 nephews.

Visitation will be 6 – 8pm Thursday, October 2, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda. A funeral service will be held 11am Friday, October 3, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda with a visitation one hour prior. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda, Illinois, or to Hospice of Dubuque. Her family thanks Dr Greg Harmston and special friend Maureen for their loving care.