Charles John ("Jack") Cardwell - dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend - passed away in his sleep at Belmont Village Senior Living in Carol Stream, Illinois, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.

Jack recently celebrated his 98th birthday and 74th wedding anniversary with his wife GeJuan - and as Jack would always say, the start of their 75th year.

Jack was born to Charles and Ruth Cardwell in New London, Missouri, on August 11, 1924.  He started his education at Central Missouri College before enlisting in the Army. After WWII, he completed his studies graduating from the University of Missouri in business and public administration in Columbia, Missouri, where he met his wife, GeJuan, while working at the Stephens College dining hall.

Jack and GeJuan married on September 18, 1948, and started their life together on the family farm, The Meadows in New Florence, Missouri, where he was mayor and where Jack started his career with State Farm Insurance with his father in their own insurance agency. He continued working for State Farm for over 45 years and rose to the level of Controller of the State Farm Life & Accident Assurance Company.

Jack and GeJuan called Bloomington-Normal home for 65 years. They first moved to Bloomington in 1953 and relocated for a few years in Dallas, Texas, before returning to Normal in 1961.

Jack enjoyed researching the family genealogy and always kept a large garden supplying neighbors and friends with countless vegetables during the summer, but his passion for beekeeping started at age 12, continuing all the way until age 91. Each year for decades, family and friends would cherish his annual gift of honey.

Jack served in the U.S. Army in World War II, rising to the rank of Technician Fifth Grade in the China-Burma-India Theater, and received the China War Memorial Medal.  As a lifelong Democrat, Jack was also elected in 1950 as Representative to the 66th Missouri General Assembly for Montgomery County. He served in Washington, D.C., with the Grace Commission during the Reagan administration as well as past Chairman of the Government Operations Committee for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Jack always continued his education and became a Chartered Life Underwriter and Charted Financial Consultant as well as their past President. He was a certified member of the Life Office Management Association as well as Chartered Property Casualty Underwriting Association. He received his master's degree as a Chartered Financial Consultant from the American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Jack was a man of service.  He served on several boards including the Baby Fold, Easter Seals, Lions Club, and Calvary United Methodist Church as well as First United Methodist Church of Normal as well as a former Cub Scout Master.  Starting as a volunteer fireman in his hometown of New Florence, he continued his service, becoming the Treasurer of the Towanda Fire District. He and his wife were also involved throughout the years with the Illinois State University's International House, hosting many students, and were recently honored along with their first student by ISU with the naming of the Dr. Frank Naeymi-Rad and Dr. Theresa A. Kepic Room, and the Charles J. "Jack" and GeJuan Cardwell Room.

Jack is survived by his wife of 74 years, GeJuan Becker Cardwell; sons Charles Cardwell (Kathy) of West Chicago, John Cardwell (Caroline) of Richmond, Virginia, and James Cardwell (Eric Rouleau) of Peconic, New York;  grandchildren Matthew Cardwell (Liz) of Oak Park, Elisa Gawith (John) of Kansas City, and Marian Cardwell (Greg Aldin) of Oak Park; great-grandchildren Emma and Scott Cardwell and Mia, Charlotte and  London Gawith; many nieces and nephews; and unofficially adopted sons Brad Naeymi (Dottie), Frank Naeymi-Rad (Theresa Kepic), Shon Naeymirad (Masayo Kobashi), Kourosh Azarbarzin (Massi) and Nader Naeymi-Rad.

In his memory, donations can be made to ISU's Multicultural Center and a gift of honeybees through Heifer International.

His friends and family are invited to share happy memories and celebrate Jack's life in the way he would want to be remembered - as a loving and caring man.

Please join his family for a brief service and military honors at East Lawn Memorial Gardens:  Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 11AM located at 1102 Airport Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704.