Charles Tonn

CHARLES E. TONN

Monticello

Charles E. Tonn, 80, of Monticello, passed away Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Kramer Funeral Home, Monticello. Visitation will continue from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Monticello, before funeral services. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at the church. Pastor Dave Raemisch will officiate.

Charles was born Feb. 11, 1938, the son of Paul and Emma (Wenthe) Tonn, in Independence, Iowa, where he grew up on the family farm. He married Carolyn A. Czizek on Oct. 20, 1990, in Monticello. Charles graduated from Independence High School in 1956, where he participated in football, baseball and wrestling. He attended Wartburg College in Waverly as a pre-theology student. He married Joan Johnson in 1958. They later divorced. Charles owned and managed numerous businesses in many locations in the Upper Midwest and had been a business consultant for the past 30 years. In 1974, Charles was part of a nine-week Rotary Exchange Team, working in New Zealand, American Samoa and Fiji. He worked for the Iowa Department of Corrections in the 1980s, and was director of the North East Iowa Small Business Development Center in Dubuque for many years. Charles also was a volunteer fireman in Osage, director of Little League baseball in Osage and head greenskeeper at Manson Golf & Country Club.

Charles was a member of St. Matthew Church including serving as a past president of the church council, the Monticello Lions Club (including past president), Monticello Eagles Club, Monticello Chamber of Commerce board and also taught high school Sunday school at St. Matthew Church. He was also a member of Ducks Unlimited in many locations, including Jones County and Kiwanis International.

Charles loved to fish, hunt, golf and travel. He actually participated in donkey basketball during his time in Monticello. He also loved to raise calves and the company of his dogs. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Charles is survived by his wife of 28 years, Carolyn; two sons, Charles Tonn II (wife Shelley) of Dubuque and their children, Megan and Bailey Tonn, Douglas Tonn (wife Susan Krapfl) of Dubuque and their children, Emma, Kate, John "Jack" and Luke Tonn; and in-laws, Joan Tonn of Rowley, Barbara (Kieth) Anderle of Pleasant Hill, Joseph Czizek of Des Moines and Michael (Sue) Czizek of India.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and five siblings, Rudolph (Orpha) Tonn, LeRoy Tonn, Paul (Marge) Tonn, Evelyn (Robert) Tegeler and Gladys "Toni" Tonn.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.