04/23/2026
The Scott County Chamber of Commerce joins our community in remembering Charles Bertram, Sr. of Oneida.
January 6, 1946 – April 20, 2026
For many of us, Charles wasn’t just a familiar face; he was part of our everyday lives. If you’ve ever had something dry cleaned in Scott County, chances are you knew Charles. In 1988, he and his wife, Lois, purchased Phillips Dry Cleaners, and for nearly four decades, they built more than a business; they built relationships.
Before stepping into the dry cleaning world, Charles worked at BF Goodrich (now HBD) and Tibbals Flooring. But it was at Phillips Dry Cleaners where his legacy truly took shape. Anyone who walked through those doors was met with kindness, consistency, and a quiet pride in doing a job well.
Charles was the definition of work ethic. Until his recent retirement, you could count on finding him right there, working, pressing, serving all of us. And let’s be honest, he did the work most folks wouldn’t sign up for, standing at a hot press, making sure the rest of us looked our very best.
And that mattered more than we sometimes realize.
Because behind every meeting, every big decision, every milestone in Scott County, there were people showing up prepared, confident, and put together. Suits pressed. Dresses ready. Shirts crisp. While Charles may not have been sitting at those tables, his work was present in every room.
That’s the thing about a strong community: it takes all of us. The folks out front making decisions… and the folks behind the scenes making sure we’re ready when we get there.
Charles Bertram, Sr., was one of those steady hands.
He and Lois believed deeply in being part of their community, not just in words, but in action. As Chamber members for the entire 38 years they owned their business, they faithfully supported the work, the connections, and the advocacy that help move Scott County forward.
Charles was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, and a proud grandfather, but he was also something more to all of us. He was part of the foundation that helped hold this community together.
We are better because we knew him. Better because he and Lois chose Scott County. Better because they stayed, through the good times and the hard ones, and kept showing up, doing one of the toughest jobs out there, helping the rest of us put our best foot forward.
Today, we are grateful for his life, and we join together in mourning his loss.
Some legacies aren’t loud, but around here, they’re felt every single day. And his will be.
