Charles E. Rouse II

Charles (Chuck) Edwin Rouse, II was born August 5, 1961 at St Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri to Harold Edwin Rouse, Jr and Cherie Anne (Amet) Rouse. Chuck was welcomed to Heaven by his mother, Cherie on November 8, 2020. He came full circle, passing away at St Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

How do you measure a success in life? If it is measured by an impact in people’s lives, there were thousands that can testify to what a positive impact Chuck made. Chuck never met a stranger, and he had a contagious smile that drew you into a conversation with him. In talking with him, you would come to find out he was a godly man who loved his family and all others before himself. He was full of joy and loved to provide. By watching him, you would learn that he loved to mentor and bring out the best in everyone around him. He always gave others the benefit of the doubt, and did not accuse. He felt God’s presence every day and tried to reflect that presence to anyone who needed to feel it. Chuck was the husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and grandfather many strive to be, albeit impossible for him to admit given his humbleness. His sister, Julianne and he had a very symbolic life of working together on any task or obstacle that would arise in their lives, and by seizing every moment of companionship along the way as the loving and caring siblings that they were.

Chuck attended grade school in both LaGrange, Illinois and Leawood, Kansas. He graduated high school from Shawnee Mission South, Overland Park, Kansas in 1979. At South he enjoyed gymnastics and being a part of the cheer squad. Chuck attended Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas and was the Baker Wildcat Mascot. He enjoyed acting in the Baker pLaymen, with his sister, and being Zeke in The Ballad of Black Jack in 1983, with his dad and uncle. Chuck was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kansas Alpha chapter. He was a houseboy and member of the Royal Order of Red Carnation at the Alpha Chi Omega, Omicron Chapter.

Chuck married Deborah Sue Johnson in 1987. Out of that union, was born Eric Brandon in 1988, and Cole Edwin in 1994. They were divorced in 2006.

Chuck started his career at Home Office Reference Lab in January 1988. The company became Lab One, and is now Quest Diagnostics. His specialty was Logistics and successfully managing many in that department, encompassing multiple states in the Midwest. One of Chuck’s gifts was mentoring and he enjoyed it and, chose to stay in a position at his job where he could do just that.

Chuck lived his life according to the Scout law. He became an Eagle Scout in 1976, following in his father’s footsteps. He mentored both his sons and two nephews to the Eagle Rank, as well as many other scouters. He was Warrior Forever Sizzling Firewood in the tribe of Mic-O-Say.

From school plays to musicals, band concerts to marching band competitions, and sports events. It was

Chucks passion to attend, and commitment of his to be involved in all of the activities that his sons and nephews participated in. Anyone who knew Chuck knew that he loved to watch KU Jayhawk college basketball.

Chuck met his wife Becky via eharmony late in 2006, and in 2007 began dating. Chuck began attending church with Becky in Raytown, MO and soon after became a member of Westridge Christian Church. While there, Chuck served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He volunteered with the Youth group, participated in a drama performance, traveled to Mexico on two mission trips to assist in building an addition to Con Mis Manos, a school for deaf children, and for a night became the auctioneer for a fundraiser which he put all of his acting skills and charm into. Chuck also later led a small group bible study in their home. Their great love for each other was very evident to all who encountered them. They understood God had brought them together and after two years of traveling from Overland Park to Lee’s Summit almost daily, Chuck proposed in a park in Lee’s Summit and they were married at Westridge on July 11, 2010. Choosing to opt out of a big honeymoon they spent the next several months taking short trips which Chuck called mini-moons. Over the period of 10 years they were practically inseparable and traveled to 29 states, Canada, and Mexico together. Chuck loved visiting museums, especially Presidential ones. They enjoyed ziplining and Segway tours in multiple states. They also visited multitude of wineries across the country and Canada. Chuck enjoyed listening to the winemakers, hearing about the soils and the winemaking process from them. Chuck loved a wide variety of music with his favorite being southern gospel and older hymns. For the past few years Chuck always gave Becky a Mother’s Day gift of half season tickets to T-Bones baseball games. They enjoyed many summer nights at the games along with attending baseball games in various cities every year for Chuck’s birthday. He and Becky constantly grew closer together in their marriage as they grew closer to God.

He was such a caring soul. EVERY night on his way home from work he would call Becky to ask if she needed him to pick up anything on his way home. As his family knows, he was always trying to be “Helpful” no matter who it was for.

Chuck was a great mentor to Becky’s sons, Chuck Parsell and Eric Parsell. He was always an encouraging voice and a supportive role in their lives.

Chuck was ‘Grandpapa’ to his adoring granddaughter Carlynn Michele Rouse, born to Eric and Rikki (Eason) Rouse, in 2016.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Becky, his father, Hal, his sons, Eric Brandon and wife, Rikki, Cole Edwin, Chuck Leonard Parsell, Eric Wayne Parsell, his older sister and life mentor, Julianne and her husband Rodger McReynolds, and their sons, Robert Weldon and Daniel Edwin, Daniel’s fiancée, Aubrey Gilchrist, and granddaughter Carlynn Michelle. He leaves many cousins and extended family. To Chuck, once you were in the family, you were “family” no matter the biological relationships.

To celebrate Chuck’s life there will be a visitation at 2 pm on Saturday November 14th at Westbrooke Church (9777 Antioch Road, Overland Park, KS 66212) followed by a celebration of life at 3 pm. The service will also be live-streamed for those who may be concerned about attending in person. Please visit this website to view his service:

https://youtu.be/sukFGrUZu7w or click the link below "Join Livestream"

Donations can be made in Chuck’s honor to Con Mis Manos, a mission that he was passionate about and supported on a regular basis. Con Mis Manos is a Christian-based school for deaf children located in Matamoros, Mexico. Please make checks payable to “Workers for Mexico Missions” with a note to CMM and send donations to Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.