Charles "Jack" VanNess, 79, of Clay City, passed away at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute following a battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 24, 1926, in Brazil, to Charles and Flossie VanNess. He attended Brazil High School. Jack then began serving his country in the United States Navy. He enlisted during World War II and served the duration of the war. Following the war he worked for American Vitrified in Brazil as a supervisor. He married Joan Chaney May 20, 1961; they moved with the company to New Jersey for a short time and returned to Clay County in 1964. After retiring from American Vitrified he began working as a supervisor for CBS in Terre Haute where he retired in 1986. Jack is a member of the VFW Post 6606, American Legion Post 225, and the Brazil Masonic Lodge 541. He enjoyed spending his days of retirement fishing.

Those who preceded in death were his parents and a brother Earl VanNess.

Survivors include his wife Joan, and a stepson, Michael Bolinger, and wife, Carol, of Bloomington Ind.; granddaughters Erin Booe and husband Matt of Center Point and Cara Marion and husband Bill of Mooresville, Ind.; great-granddaughters Caroline Booe and Katie Marion; a sister Cleo McKee of Clay City; two brothers-in-law, Cecil Cooprider and Kenneth Finchum; nieces and nephews, Bill, Pat, Becky, Terri, Tammy, Michael, Darrin, and Tim as well as many extended family members.

Graveside services will be at Calcutta Cemetery on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, at 10 a.m. with Pastor Bill Price officiating. Services will be scheduled for a later date as cremation has been requested. Donations may be made in his memory to American Cancer Society and the Clay County Humane Society. Schoppenhorst Funeral Home has been entrusted with his care.