Last night my brothers and I sat around and typed up some stuff about my father, to give to the minister for the service on Wednesday. I thought I’d share it with ya’ll. The list at the end is just what we could think of off the tops of our heads — there are more things than that. Just this morning I thought of another half dozen.
In 1940, the war broke out in Europe, and Chuck’s entire high school graduating class marched from their graduation ceremony to the enlistment office and enlisted. During that summer, Chuck wrapped his body around a post, a telephone pole and fire hydrant. He was in the hospital for a month, while his motorcycle received no damage (he was always bitter about that.) The boat that carried his graduating class was torpedoed and sunk, killing all aboard. From that time on, Chuck considered every moment a gift.
After five years and many battles, Chuck came back to the US. He went to Purdue on the GI Bill, where he met Lois. They didn’t meet in class, but at a bar, where Chuck was the drummer for a jazz band.
After college, Chuck worked for Cummings Diesel, and was in charge of setting up the radar installations at all the airports because they used diesel engines to run them. Then he went to work at Federal Mogul and moved to Hibbing, MN. They lived there for eight years. After the death of their daughter Dorothy, they moved to Minneapolis.
After retiring from Federal Mogul, Chuck started his own industrial supply company, Cutter Sales, and built it into a million dollar company which he then sold.
Even before his retirement years, Chuck had many interests. Here are just a few:
Making model airplanes, both remote control and gliders
Building HO scale train cars
Making remote control sailboats
Skiing both downhill and cross country
Playing tennis
Swimming
Refinishing antique furniture
Re-caning chairs
Rebuilding player pianos
Making stained glass
Bicycling
Rebuilding automobiles
Inventing: he invented a bag for carrying bicycles on an airplane, as well as a bag for carrying remote control airplanes
Teaching how to sew teddy bears. He sewed and gave away many
Roofing houses
Volunteering at numerous events, including reading and teaching math to underprivileged children, manning the phones for the PBS radio station drives, voting booths, and estate sales
Remodeling houses, including plumbing, electrical, plaster, wall paper — you name it he did it
Chairs: he was known as the Chair King – had 200 chairs at one time that he’d refinished
Sports: he baseball, football and college basketball
Walking the Mall of America
Making bent wood boxes
Sewing in general – he made hats, vests, a briefcase, quilts, and other things from kits
Playing bridge and other card games
Playing cribbage
Traveling: he loved taking road trips and traveling in general
Learning: he loved going to Elderhostels and taking classes
Yesterday we went through photo albums, choosing pictures to use for the memorial. My dad was such a looker when he was a young man. He was always active, too. There’s another picture of him, shirtless, at 60, lifting a log, still incredibly muscular. I didn’t realize it until talking with my brother, but my dad didn’t break his hip until he was 80 (I’d thought he’d done it earlier, say, 70 or 75.) How did he break his hip? He’d been out on his bicycle with the guys he always rode with — doing 25 miles every Saturday — and got into an accident.
Hang in there
Dear Leah,
So sorry to read your dad passed away. Big hug and all possible moral support for Wednesday,
Your old ‘Budapest ’93’ pal Jeroen
It was terrible hearing about your father. It’s such a blow to lose someone that fundamental to your life, there are never any words. But hearing you describe him … it sounds like he made a lot of the gift he was given.
This is a very sweet memorial. Thank you.
What a busy guy. It’s no wonder you always look like you’re in motion, with such a dynamic role model.
Wow your dad sounds like an amazing guy! Sure to be missed, after doing so many things.
Hang in there
Dear Leah,
So sorry to read your dad passed away. Big hug and all possible moral support for Wednesday,
Your old ‘Budapest ’93’ pal Jeroen
It was terrible hearing about your father. It’s such a blow to lose someone that fundamental to your life, there are never any words. But hearing you describe him … it sounds like he made a lot of the gift he was given.
This is a very sweet memorial. Thank you.
What a busy guy. It’s no wonder you always look like you’re in motion, with such a dynamic role model.
Wow your dad sounds like an amazing guy! Sure to be missed, after doing so many things.
He sounds like an amazing man. My thoughts are with you and your family.
He sounds like an amazing man. My thoughts are with you and your family.
My condolences.
My condolences.
Thanks for sharing your dad with us.
Thanks for sharing your dad with us.
Time …
L,
I love that our paths cross for that time, which now seems so very long ago. I never met you dad in person thou you spoke of him often.
If it was his influence in your life that I saw most, then he was truly a good man.
I am sorry for your loss.
Time …
L,
I love that our paths cross for that time, which now seems so very long ago. I never met you dad in person thou you spoke of him often.
If it was his influence in your life that I saw most, then he was truly a good man.
I am sorry for your loss.