After growing up in Sycamore and touching the hearts of many through a number of community involvements throughout his lifetime, the late Chuck Siebrasse leaves a legacy of service and dedication to the DeKalb and Sycamore communities.

“He certainly will be missed,” said DeKalb Acting Mayor Kris Povlsen. “A lot of things he was involved with will go on with his legacy.”

Charles “Chuck” Siebrasse passed away Feb. 5 at the age of 61 from renal cancer, leaving behind his wife and son. At the time of his death, he was the executive director of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, board member of Suicide Prevention Services in Batavia and co-chairman of DeKalb Corn Fest Corn Boil.

Siebrasse and Povlsen both attended Sycamore High School together in the 1960s and have worked together through the years with their work in the community.

“He was not the kind of guy who needed the limelight, and he impacted people, a lot of time in ways people didn’t know he had anything to do with.” Povlsen said.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, Siebrasse and his wife also formerly owned the MidWeek. He was also a DeKalb firefighter and paramedic and was involved with various community and charitable organizations in the area including the DeKalb Elks Lodge, Wright Way Pontiac and the American Cancer Society.

“[His impact on the community] was significant,” said Bruce Johnson, plant manager of Castle-PrinTech. “I’m sure there was somebody else to do things if he didn’t do them, but it would have taken a lot of people.”

Johnson worked in the same building as Siebrasse when he owned the MidWeek from 1981 to 2001. Johnson said Chuck always knew how to be firm but fair and describes him as an overall good and giving person.

Chuck also encouraged others to give back to the community by promoting Let’s Talk Turkey. Povlsen said that was the type of person he was – that he didn’t just donate a turkey himself but challenged people to get involved too.

“It was his excitement that was infectious that made people want to get involved,” Povlsen said.

Pat LaVigne, DeKalb Township Supervisor and DeKalb County Board member, knew Chuck since her childhood and worked with him through a variety of community involvements over the years. She described him as a hard worker and a person who could get things done.

“He always had time for anybody and everybody,” she said.