Charles "Chuck" Silliman
March 12, 1929 ~ March 28, 2026
Charles B. Silliman, 97, died March 28, 2026, of natural causes at the Meth-Wick community in Cedar Rapids.
Born in 1929, in Elgin, Illinois, his father died when he was six, and his mother Mabel, a school nurse, raised Chuck, his brother Richard, and sister Joan during the Great Depression. He was very close with his cousins, Don and Bob Schuberg. In high school, Chuck played point guard on a national-championship-winning basketball team, and while still a teenager he sailed to Germany and Poland as a cattle-tender on a humanitarian aid mission after WWII. He majored in History and German at Cornell college, married June M. Webb, and moved with their newborn daughter, Anna, to the University of Oregon to earn a teaching certificate.
Chuck then taught for two years at the Woodstock Country School in South Woodstock, Vermont, before returning to Mount Vernon in 1957, this time with the baby Matthew, in tow. He taught German, History, and English for some years at Jefferson high school in Cedar Rapids before accepting a Fulbright exchange fellowship to teach for a year in Frankfurt, Germany, now with their third child, Emily, along for the ride. The family lived in Cedar Hills for four years, then moved back to Mount Vernon, where Chuck led the foreign language department and taught German at Mount Vernon high school. He loved taking groups of students to Germany. Chuck spent several years mentoring student teachers at Cornell, and after retiring for real he pursued interests in Gothic cathedral architecture and model aircraft, and developed a fascination with archeology, prompted by June’s extensive work on digs all over the world, which she undertook after completing her own career in teaching.
During most of his working career Chuck also served as a United Methodist lay pastor to several rural congregations in Eastern Iowa.
June and Chuck moved to a condominium in Coralville in the early aughts, and later to an apartment at Greenwood in the Meth-Wick community in Cedar Rapids, where June died in the fall of 2022 after 72 years of marriage.
He is survived by his three children, Anna, Matthew, and Emily; their spouses, Peter Dowben, Sharon Wyrrick, and Dale Shultz; and granddaughters, Margaret and Carolyn.
Those who knew Chuck well remember him as always full of stories, jokes and much laughter. And he was a great audience if you had a story to tell him. Rather than sending flowers, please consider a donation in his name to one of Chuck’s favorite local charities, the Matthew 25 Cultivate Hope Corner Store in Cedar Rapids. https://www.matthew-25.org/cultivate-hope-corner-store/
Please share your memories with Chuck’s family on his obituary page at www.stewartbaxter.com under the Obituaries tab.
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My thoughts and sympathy to the Silliman family.
Annamae Baker
Thank you so much for your kind words
Mr. Silliman was an excellent German teacher…and also willingly distracted in class if a student showed curiosity about a (non-German-language) topic. 🙂 Happy to say that he helped provide a strong base for my language learning…I am brushing up on my Deutsch for a trip to Berlin soon and am finding (50 years later) that much of it is still imprinted in my brain! I will always remember Herr Silliman’s smile and happy outlook.
Thanks, Joan. I would love to visit Berlin, also. I hope that trip works out well.
I will miss Chuck’s gentle soul and wonderful smile. He was such a joy to know and visit with, I always felt he would be a wonderful narrator as he voice was so easy to listen too. I’m sure June was glad to welcome him to heaven.
He will be missed for sure.
Thanks, Karen. Dad looked forward to his appointments with you! I think it was about more than just the haircut.
Thank you, David. Chuck held your parents (and you) in equally high regard. I forget most of the stories, but He knew you were an utter poster child for the power of language learning. He was so kind, so personable, and his work was so consequential; of how many people can we say as much?
Thank you for your thoughts.
“Aller Anfang ist schwer.” That’s the first thing Mr. Silliman taught us in August 1976. Right away I knew Mr. Silliman was a good teacher. In college, I realized Mr. Silliman had been a great teacher. That eventually led to my first career, as a diplomat. Now, for my second career, I am a high school teacher. I will never be as good at this as Mr. Silliman. But he is my daily inspiration when I walk into the classroom.
I felt the same way for 35 years as a professor of philosophy: how can I be as lively and effective in the classroom as my Dad?
We were so very lucky to be taught by Herr Silliman. I took 4 years of German with him in the 1970s and can still make my way around the language all these years later.
He was an exceptional teacher, truly one of the best. What a legacy he leaves behind.
Isn’t that amazing, when you think how long ago the ‘70’s was! Thank you for your wonderful comment!
Chuck was one of those special people you are very glad you knew and will always respect and remember. I enjoyed his great sense of humor. Lots of good times, drinking coffee or over meals at Rotary. Great interesting stories and lots of laughs. He will certainly be missed.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I’ll miss you, Sill! I loved your class so much I actually went to Cornell and majored in German… thanks for being a great human to me in high school and thanks for tutoring me in college… rest easy
Dad enjoyed his students so much. Thank you for your thoughts.
Herr Silliman was one of my favorite teachers from MVHS. I was even prouder to have him as a mentor when I returned to Mount Vernon and started teaching German. I loved passing down songs, stories and methods over the years that I learned from Charles. A few hits: “Hoch soll sie leben!” “Die Tür there’s a muddy road ahead” “Ein Tisch ist ein Tisch” (Böll) “Die Gedanken sind frei” “Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft” I remember other classics like “Schaulspielhaus” “Guten Tag Luise, Wie geht’s” Chuck had the ability to tell corny stories that helped learn concepts. I learned to tell my own version of that over the years. I remember meeting Duval and Silliman at a social function and learning that us three were three generations of German teacher to student. My favorite moment that I felt an instant connection to Charles and his story of Luther and the printing press was In 2016. I visited a museum near Frankfurt that had a replica of one of the first printing presses that printed the Bible. I have nothing but loving memories and gratitude to Herr Silliman. I hope his family and friends revel in the memories of Charles – laugh and smile wide with a twinkle in their eyes, just like Charles.
Don’t let your Gesellschaft fall down your Gemeinschaft, And always remember Trumpregierungschlamaselsmerz!
Thank you for your wonderful comment and memories, What an honor to be part of the Duval – Silliman – Wilkinson legacy! Keep it going, you have the right idea with the laughter and stories. All the best to you!
As a freshman student I lost my dad. Herr Silliman did more than extend sympathy, he checked to see how I was doing. He knew this kind of loss and was himself just a few years younger than dad. I have never forgotten his kindness. He knew what people needed, and that I needed to not feel alone in grief.
On a lighter note- to this day, I can’t drive past a “Detour” sign without singing “Die tur, there’s a muddy road ahead, die tur.” Gosh he was good. Bis spater to those steel grey eyes, and a wonderful soul.
I admit I had to look up “Die tur, there’s a muddy road ahead.” His classroom was its own special place, because I have never heard that song before. Otherwise known as “Detour, there’s a muddy road ahead.”
Oh my yes, Herr Silliman was an amazing teacher! So animated! I especially remember him trying to teach us how to make the correct sound for an umlaut, and teaching us the history of language. Aways smiling and telling stories, absolutely none other like him.
What an interesting life Amazing
My condolences to the family
Hi Dave! I had forgotten you were one of Dad’s students as well as our neighbor! Thanks for your kind words.
I took 4 years of the German Language at Mount Vernon High School. We didn’t just learn “Good Morning, Goodnight, Where is the bathroom?” Nein! We learned about the geography, the culture, the history, the people of Germany. And most importantly we learned about diversity! Something that is very important in today’s world. To Herr Silliman I say, Auf widersehen bis spater. Danke!
Thanks for sharing your memories.
I remember Mr. Silliman well. I had two years of German with him in Mount Vernon. I was very pleased to see him and his wife, June, through their interest in Archaeology, while I was working at the Office of the State Archaeologist. We talked numerous times.
That’s wonderful, thank you for your comment!
I remember Mr. Silliman well, too. I had only one year of German with him in Mount Vernon. But it gave me a great headstart with the language in high school and University. I remember Anna, too. Mr. Silliman has touched so many lives–a very fine legacy.
Thank you for your kind words.
Herr Silliman was one of a kind – a truly great teacher and mensch. What a wonderful life he had and how great to have had such an impact on so many others, myself included. I remember very little of high school – a testament to him is that I can still recite the “Guten Tag, Luise, wie geht’s?” dialogues as well as all those silly songs we sang in class!
Those dialogues are stuck in my memory as well! Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you, Rebecca. ‘Mensch’ is just about the perfect description for Chuck.
Marvelous teacher. He was my History and Geo/Political teacher. Very ahead of the times. He presented an in depth special of China, and it’s culture and revolution. This was the class of 1970. All of us graduates at Mt. Vernon High school were so lucky. My very dear chum in high school, Lynn Phillips and her family were next door neighbors to the Silliman’s. I meet Anna and her younger siblings. A wonderful family. My best to Anna,Matt, and Emily. Your father’s life was a blessing to many.
Thank you, Cindy. The Phillips household was practically a second family for me, and Mrs. Phillips (I would NEVER have used her first name!) was my middle school science teacher. Fabulous.
Mr. silliman numbered as one of the teachers that changed my life. He validated so many of my ideas about other people . And told meaningful stories everyday. I can recite portions of Canterbury tales. I looked forward to seeing him at the Democratic convention. Fondly,Patricia Hadish Long
As a boy I stumbled on Chuck’s copy of Chaucer, in Middle English, with hundreds of comments in the margins. That was one of the ways he inspired me to become a scholar and a teacher myself. It’s great that he conveyed that appreciation for language and history to you as well!
I am terribly sorry, Sally, that I can’t picture you when you were our babysitter. That is, I remember a couple of them, and one might have been you. Then again, I was pretty young. Thanks for your note; it means alot!
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Anna, Matthew and Emily – I was so sorry to read about your father’s death. I am a member of the First United Methodist Church in Morley, where Chuck was pastor for so many years. I think he came there in 1958, when I was still in high school. He baptized me and my sister and her two sons, and I was so glad to keep in touch with him after your parents moved to Iowa City. I will remember his friendship and commitment to the Morley community. I also recall some of the sermons over the years. He said one time you should preach with the Bible in one hand and the newpaper in the other. You have my deep sympathy. I will send a memorial to Matthew 25 in his name.
The name Florence Duncan was a familiar one in our household, though I believe I only actually met you once. Thank you for your kind words, and that image of Chuck’s approach to preaching! Thank you also for supporting Matthew 25 in his memory.
Blessings to you Anna, Matt and Emily.💖
Thank you, Elaine. The three of us did seem to come out all right, after all!
My favorite teacher in high school at Mount Vernon. I especially liked reading A Tale of Two Cities in his class while he taught us about that time in history. My condolences to his family.
Mr. Silliman was my favorite high school teacher at Jefferson High. He inspired us to be curious about everything.
Mr. Silliman was responsible for bringing my dad to Mt. Vernon. To this day, my dad tells the story of Chuck Silliman calling him and telling him to apply at MVHS after they had worked together at C.R. Jefferson. Mrs. Silliman was my 2nd grade teacher, but Mr. Silliman had retired by the time I got to high school. My parents always had such respect for the Sillimans. I remember how excited Mr. and Mrs. Silliman were when they found out I had moved to Oshkosh where Mrs. Silliman still had family. I loved keeping touch with them over the years with our yearly Christmas card. The Sillimans left an indelible mark on the lives of so many generations of Mt. Vernon students. We were so lucky to know them. The thoughts of the Halsey family are with all of you.
Thank you, Gail. In the early 60s we three kids would sometimes come to Jefferson to play in the halls while Dad worked in his office. Even from outside his classroom, through the windows in the door and up by the ceiling, we marveled at your Dad’s collection of stuffed owls, snakes, and other animals. It was magical. We all took biology and chemistry with Halsey at Mount Veron, where he had transferred his menagerie. Early last month when I flew out to visit with my dad for a week, he received a lovey birthday card from your dad, who is evidently still kicking. Give him our best!
We knew your Dad when he pastored our UMC at Viola, and I played the organ.
The memory that stands out to me was his kindness, always taking time to speak to everyone and taking a few minutes to listen. I knew he was on a tight schedule with the 2 churches, but he never indicated that to his congregation.
We appreciated his care.
Thank you for that memory and image, Mary and Jim. I don’t know how he did it, but Chuck had that remarkable ability to listen and hear, even when he had somewhere else to be.