Charles H. Borchers, Sr.

Charles H. Borchers, Sr. (Chuck), age 95, passed away on October 21, 2025. Services will be held on Wednesday, October 29 at Curé of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, KS. Visitation will be at 10:30 am followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Committal services and interment will follow in the Holy Family Mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. 

Chuck was born on May 9, 1930, in Chicago, IL. He was the son of German immigrants Augusta Victoria Borchers (née Schneider) of Berching in Bavaria, and August Borchers, a cabinetmaker from Twistringen in Diepholz, Lower Saxony. Chuck was preceded in death by his wife Elaine (née Pierce) of 69 years, and by his sister Ann B. Moore and brother-in-law Harry Judson Moore of Barrington, IL, and by his grandson Charles (Trey) Borchers, III. Chuck is survived by four children: Claudette Borchers (husband Geoff Hetley), Charles (Chuck) Borchers, Jr., Julienne Gehrer (husband Joseph), and Paul Borchers (wife Lori). He is also survived by nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and four nieces. 

Chuck attended St. Alphonsus and Queen of Angels grade schools in Chicago, and St. Michael’s in Wheaton, IL. He began working at age 12, eventually having a variety of jobs including newspaper delivery, butcher’s boy, gardener, garbage hauler helper, animal husbandry, crop farmer, auto mechanic, chemistry lab assistant, and manufacturing chemist. He graduated in 1948 with honors from Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, IL, and earned a scholarship to Loras College in Dubuque, IA, where he majored in Chemistry. He transferred to Illinois Institute of Technology where he earned BS and MS degrees, with an awarded fellowship in Chemical Engineering. Chuck later continued his education at Northwestern University (Business Administration), Dartmouth College (Statistical Science), University of Kansas (Industrial Management), University of Michigan (School of Business), and the University of Missouri (School of Pharmacy). 

In 1954, Chuck joined Lithographic Technical Foundation at Glessner House in Chicago as a research scientist and manager of the Paper, Ink and Press Relationships Division. Activities included the publication of scientific papers, closed-circuit TV educational presentations, international materials testing, laboratory management, and technical consulting to the industry. In 1961 he joined Rigby Printing Company in Kansas City and eventually became part owner and Executive Vice President. In 1975 he joined B.F. Ascher Pharmaceutical Company and advanced to Vice President of Scientific and Legal Affairs. He retired in January of 2000 and served on the Board of Directors through 2024. During his career, Chuck also made successful land, real estate and stock market investments. 

Chuck and Elaine were married on May 21, 1955, at St. Irene Catholic Church in Warrenville, IL, and later moved to Naperville, IL. In August of 1961, they moved with their three young children to Prairie Village, KS where they had a fourth child in the home they shared for forty years. Eventually, they built a house in Leawood featuring a dining room large enough to host their extended family for memorable holiday gatherings. In December of 2015, they joined the Santa Marta Senior Living Community in Olathe, KS. 

When it came to priorities, Chuck’s wife and family always came first. There were many fun vacations and great pride in the accomplishments of individual members of the family. Chuck and Elaine also enjoyed several cruises and international excursions. His many interests and activities included volunteering with Boy Scout Troop 395, sailing his Y-Flyer on Lake Jacomo, taking his sons on a rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, line dancing, gardening, woodworking, photography, and attending classical music concerts. Even while working, he found the time to build a huge Victorian dollhouse for their first grandchild, Victoria. To delight his wife, he built a massive lighthouse keeper’s dollhouse, complete with a revolving beacon in the tower. This moved with them to Santa Marta where Elaine enjoyed illuminating it for family and friends. 

The family is grateful to Christina Bertrand, the staff at Plaza Health Services at Santa Marta, and Ascend Hospice of Kansas for their dedicated and compassionate care. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Curé of Ars Catholic Church where Elaine and Chuck were members since 1962.https://www.wesharegiving.org/app/giving/cure?tab=home