Charles Church

CHARLES "CHUCK" ERNEST CHURCH

Cedar Rapids

Charles "Chuck" Ernest Church, 70, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, at his home. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 10, at the Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at First Church of the Open Bible, Cedar Rapids, conducted by Pastor Harris Holsapple. Private inurnment: Rogers Grove Cemetery at a later date.

Survivors include his wife, Wanda, of Cedar Rapids; children, John (Tammy) Bartosh of Cedar Rapids, Darlene (Matt) Hughes of Cedar Rapids and Latricia (Tom) Skaar of Woodbridge, Va.; grandchildren, Courtnie Bartosh, Connor Bartosh, Tonya (Brendan) Jacobson, Brandon Hughes, Tyler Hughes, Nathan (Jade) Skaar and Hannah Skaar; great-grandchildren, Skyler Stinger, Hadley Jacobson and one on the way; sister, Cindy (Kevin) Klein of Cedar Rapids; brother, William Church of Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John, Robert, Wayne and Steven; and his favorite dog, Lucky.

Chuck was born March 6, 1947, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, son of John and Emma (Johnstone) Church. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1965. Chuck attended Ellsworth Junior College and then Kirkwood Community College. He then gained a master electrician degree from IBEW Local 405. Chuck served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 as a combat medic during the Vietnam War. On April 29, 1970, in Omaha, Neb., Chuck and Wanda (Slaton) were united in marriage. For 20 years, Chuck owned and operated CECO Chuck's Electric, where he spent countless hours doing what he loved.

Chuck was a proud veteran and family man. Chuck and Wanda opened up their home to anyone, including Scott Hamlin, Linda Lehman, Teenah Oldham and Brad Bixby, whom he considered family.

Chuck enjoyed cribbage, solitaire, Yahtzee, Westerns, country music, going camping and having their yearly leaf trip and harvest party. He drove the church bus and was a youth pastor and always was passing out candy at church. Fellowship and his church were very important to him. Most of all, Chuck loved Jesus and wanted others to as well.

A special thank-you to Val, Mary and Judy at Hospice Compassus and also to Koreen and all of the staff, nurses and doctors at the VA for the special care given to Chuck.

"The quality of a man's life is measured by how deeply he has touched the lives of others."

Please share a memory of Chuck at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.