FACER, John Charles Jr.: 1934-1984

FACER, CLINKENBEARD

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:22:44

Added by Admin, September 2020 --

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Ledger"
Friday, June 15, 1984
Page 11, Column 5

FACER in hospital

John FACER, Fairfield, is a patient in the Ottumwa Hospital following surgery.

An employee at J&B Plastics, his home address is 301½ W. Washington. His hospital address is Room 305, Ottumwa Hospital, Ottumwa, Iowa, 52501.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Ledger"
Thursday, July 5, 1984
Page 12, Column 4

FACER, circus clown, dies

John Charles FACER, veteran Fairfield circus clown, died at 8:20 a.m. today at Ottumwa Hospital following an illness of several months.

Services are pending at the Raymond Funeral Home.

FACER, 301½ W. Washington, was widely known for his portrayal of "Chuckles the Clown." He performed with a number of circuses in the U.S., Canada and Germany.

FACER retired from circus work a few years ago. More recently he was employed at the J&B Plastics Co. in Fairfield.

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Original posting by Sherri --

Fairfield (Ia.) Ledger
Friday, July 6, 1984

John Facer rites Saturday
By BILL BAKER

Not only John Charles FACER died Thursday morning at the Ottumwa Hospital, so did Chuckles the Clown.

FACER, 49, created "Chuckles" soon after he graduated from Fairfield High School and spent most of his adult life in the entertainment field. Even after retiring from show business, he was called upon by local organizations to help entertain children on special occasions.

Graveside services will be conducted Saturday at 10 a.m. in Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Carl Riggs officiating. The Raymond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Charles FACER Jr. was born Oct. 22, 1934 in Fairfield, the son of John Charles and Margaret CLINKENBEARD FACER. He was employed at J&B Plastics Co. in Fairfield prior to his recent illness. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Fairfield Shrine Club, Elks and Masonic Lodges.

FACER acquired his love for the entertainment world naturally. His father, who was born in Spring Valley, Ill., traveled with a circus as a young man before entering the bakery business. He also operated a bakery in Fairfield for a number of years.

As a small child, FACER was always among the first to arrive on the lot when it was Circus Day in Fairfield. When the Al G. Kelley-Miller Bros. Circus appeared in Fairfield in 1951, FACER was given an opportunity to appear with the clowns during the show. That was all it took and as soon as he completed school, he began his career as a circus clown.

FACER traveled with Kelley-Miller Bros. Circus, Jay Gould Circus, Clyde Beatty, King Bros. and Polack Bros. He also spent four years with Rudy Bros. Circus, touring a number of European countries during one season.

During his career as a clown, FACER also trained as a ventriloquist. He finally left the circus and devoted his time to two ventriloquist dummies, "Chick O'Let," a boy, "Candy Lane," a girl. He also added balloon sculpture to his act and spent time in promotional work.

(Capitalization per site administrator regulation. Transcribed for genealogical purposes only. I am of no relation.)

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Admin entries and photo copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the poster ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 3rd.167. He appears on his parents' gravestone as an unengraved blank.

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