Charlie was a proud Army Veteran serving his country during World War II.He entered the Army Infantry in 1943 as a draftee at Camp Dodge, Iowa, near Des Moines.Charlie transferred to Camp Howze near Gainesville, Texas where he completed basic training with the 84th Infantry Division.He went from the infantry into the Army Air Corps at Shepard Field, and then on to a college training detachment in Missoula, Montana.In 1944 Charlie transferred to the Santa Ana Airbase where he left the Aviation Cadet program. He was stationed at several Air Bases, in Nebraska, Iowa and Utah.Later that year, Charlie arrived at Vancouver Barracks in Washington, a port of embarkation for overseas duty in Hawaii.He was stationed at Wheeler Field with the 388th Air Service Group.In 1946, after the war ended, Charlie left Hawaii to return to the U.S. and was discharged from the Army in February.
Charlie and Charlotte set up housekeeping on Emmet Street in Omaha where he worked for the Omaha & Council Bluffs Railway Company while Charlotte continued her job at Mutual of Omaha. In September 1946 Charlie started school at the University of Omaha on the G.I. Bill.He became a part-time taxi driver and later repaired vending machines while attending college.Charlie also became a self-employed pinball machine operator and full time Kirby vacuum cleaner salesperson (almost starved).Charlotte and Charlie's first daughter, Sherrill, was born during this time.
After Charlie graduated from the University of Omaha he took a position with Northern Natural Gas Company's Field Engineering Department.This work association would last for 33 years.Three more daughters were also born, Monica, Kristine, and Kimberly.Charlie built a new house on Grover Street and his family moved in when Kim was a baby.Charlie also started taking service calls for the Dahl Vending machine company again and his daughters were willing ride-along assistants.
Northern Natural Gas relocated Charlie and his family to several different job assignments, in Mankato, Minnesota, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Great Bend, Kansas but he always was transferred back to Omaha.In late 1973 Charlie designed and began construction of a house in Ralston; his family moved in the following summer.Charlie also drew up plans for a house for Monica in Great Bend and constructed a house for Kris in Ralston.In June of 1984, Charlie retired from Northern Natural.Later in October, he and Charlotte celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Hawaii.
Charlie was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church since 1970.He served in many capacities, including Church Council president and Golf League coordinator.Charlie was actively involved as a volunteer with VNA, Visiting Nurses Association, for 38 years beginning with Meals-on-Wheels deliveries. He progressed into the administration offices, making copies, filing documents and entering data on Tuesday mornings.He and Charlotte also volunteered to assist with VNA's Flu Shot Clinics.Charlie enjoyed golf, always walking eighteen holes on numerous golf courses. He taught a couple daughters to play golf with him so he could practice his game and even modified a golf club that could get him out of tough locations.Charlie was amazing at fixing or constructing just about anything. His favorite magazine was Popular Science which brought out his creative and skillful interests.
Grandkids always brought their Pinewood Derby blocks of wood up to Grampa's so he could cut out their designs with his collection of saws and tools.As a child, Charlie thought he'd like to be an inventor but felt like most everything had already been invented at that time.He sure was the handy-dandiest innovator of all time and the most helpful and caring guy ever.
Charlie was preceded in death by wife Charlotte; brothers Jim, Rusty, George, and Allen; and sons-in-law Tim Douglas and Jim Davis.
Charlie is survived by his four daughters Sherri Berendse of Omaha, Monica Davis of Salina, KS, Kris Riskowski of Ralston, and Kim (Doug) Wheatley of Omaha; brother Jerry (Mona) of Long Beach, MS; sisters Helen (Jim) Swartz of Columbus, NE and Laura (Gary) Lindgren of Lincoln; sister-in-law Darleen Richard, of Lincoln; grandchildren, Courtney (Kevin) Pope, Billings, MT, James (Jeannine) Davis, Littleton, CO, Darcy (Chad) Harris, Leavenworth, KS, Jeff (Jennie) Davis, La Vista, NE, Kyle Hartman, Tampa, FL, Joe (Chelsea) Davis, Calhan, CO, Jared (Anna) Hartman, Thornton, CO, Jed (Jessica) Davis, Salina, KS, Derek Wheatley, Nebraska City, NE, Carly Richard, Omaha, Alex (Jill) Wheatley, Nebraska City, NE, Chase Wheatley, Omaha and Morgan Wheatley, Kearney;great-grandchildren Quincey, Brooks, Bennett, Hunter,Alec, Henry, Reid, Elliott, Robert, Zade, Makenna, Emily, Aiden, Charlie, Rayven, Magic, and Amira ; and great-great-grandchild, Silas; as well as numerous extended family and friends.
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