Charles "Chuck" Springer

Charles J. “Chuck” Springer, 83, passed away peacefully at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation in Eau Claire on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, with his family at his side. “Junior,” as he was affectionately known during his childhood, was born in Nevada, Iowa, on June 18, 1923, to Charles W. and Rosey (nee Anderson) Springer. Charles worked on the railroad, at a lumber yard and grain elevator in Iowa. He married Darlene Thompson in Story County, Iowa, in 1944; and the couple moved to Foster, Wis., where they farmed many years. Charles and Darlene had two children, Donald and Susan. Chuck was a truck driver for Reed Trucking in Zearing, Iowa, and later worked at the Menards steel plant in Eau Claire for 18 years before retiring in 1988. He married Lucille Blang on December 21, 1970. Chuck and Lucille enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren as well as traveling, particularly to country music venues. Chuck was an avid fisherman and deer hunter who bagged several trophy-size salmon, brown trout and white-tailed deer. He also had a special fondness for woodworking and would often surprise friends and relatives with handcrafted furniture, cabinets and birdhouses. When he wasn’t outdoors, he usually had his nose buried in one of the more than 100 novels he read by Louis L’Amour — America’s favorite storyteller who brought the American frontier to life. Chuck’s kindness and loving spirit will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Lucille of Eau Claire; two children, Donald (Rene) Springer of Osseo and Susan (Kevin) Ruby of Roland, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Ruth Springer of Story City, Iowa; eight grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donald; and his first wife, Darlene. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at 11 a.m. at All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Service, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire. Fr. William Dhein, pastor of St. Patrick-Sacred Heart Parish, will officiate. Private interment will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Fairchild. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services.