Charles Alexander Dreas, Jr., (aka Charlie, Chuck, Chuckles, and Lucky Chucky), passed away on August 25, 2026 at the age of 86. He was the oldest son of Charles, Sr. and Janet (Galazin) of Chicago, Illinois. He was proud of his “south side” heritage and remained a loyal fan of the Cubs and da Bears. Chuck was best known in Chicago for blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown to take the Mendel Men to the finals, ultimately winning the High School Football City Championship (Public vs Parochial) in1957. The headlines read “Russia has Sputnik but Mendel has Dreas”. He continued his love of sports, playing football and earning a degree in business from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Chuck coached high school football in St. Louis, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he took the Bishop Kelley Comets to their first winning season (9-1) and met his future wife. The Comets were not allowed to go to the playoffs because they were a new school and did not have a conference.
In 1974 he married Marilyn Miller, also of Tulsa. He resigned from coaching to work for MBM Builders Supply which led the family to the Kansas City area with Magic Chef. He found his longtime career move when he joined Artco Casket Company in Lenexa, Kansas.
If he wasn't fishing, he was coaching from his big brown chair or enjoying excursions with his family. Always being the comedian (without trying) is how he received the grandfather name “Chuckles”. He was an active member of Country Club Christian Church where he was known for his welcoming smile and hearty laugh. He served as an Elder and was a member of the Koinonia class. He was always a giver-advice, hand shakes, smiles or his time which he gave to the Kansas University Research Center. His last act of giving was to donate his brain to further research on the lasting effects of playing football. It was not unusual to find him with ear buds listening to Jimmy Buffet and friends, always singing along. When attending the Buffet concerts, his friends were amazed he knew all the words.
When Chuck talked about his family is when he began calling himself “Lucky Chucky”, always thankful for what he had been given in life. Chuck is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilyn, and his two children: Chad (Charles III), wife Emily and children Savannah, Skylar and Charlie (IV) of Rowayton, Connecticut, and his daughter Whitney Green and children Kai, Alexander and Saylor of Spring Hill, Kansas, and his brother Fred, wife Beverly and their families that reside in the Chicago area.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri, 64113 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Bishop Kelley High School
3905 South Hudson Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
Country Club Christian Church
6101 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, Missouri 64113
Kansas University Research Center
4350 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, Kansas 66205