Charles Carr

Charles "Chuck" Carr, age 83, of Faribault, MN, passed away January 11, 2016, at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 15, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault, with Rev. Craig Breimhorst, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association. Interment will be at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Memorial visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Legion Post 43, S.A.F.E. Sanctuary, or the River Bend Nature Center in memory of Chuck.

Solid Patriot. Avid community volunteer. Lover of animals and nature. Green Bay Packer fan. Chuck was all of that and much, much more. He grew up in Michigan's upper peninsula, where his love of nature was born. And also his love of ski jumping. He enlisted in the Air Force after high school and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War, serving from 1951 to 1955. While in Germany, he was invited to join the USAFE (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) ski jumping team, and participated in competitions throughout Europe, winning two championships in 1954 and 1955 in Garmisch, Germany. After his service, he attended Michigan State University, and became a lifelong Spartan fan. Before graduating from MSU, he met Alice (Lee) Fisk, his future wife. Chuck landed a job with Ford Motor Co., which eventually led them to Minnesota. Along with Lee and their two daughters, Connie and Cheryl, they made their home in Faribault in 1970 when Chuck began a 33-year career with McQuay Int'l as personnel manager.

During his 40+ years in Faribault, Chuck was involved in numerous civic and community organizations. He chose how to spend his time carefully, and the organizations that he chose were fortunate to have him on their side. He was a long-time, committed member of the American Legion, serving as Commander in 1974. He also was involved in the Rice County Central Veteran's Association, the Faribault Lions Club, United Way and was an active volunteer with the River Bend Nature Center in its early years. Chuck also spent many years coordinating Faribault's Memorial Day and Heritage Days parades. In his retirement, Chuck spent 15 years with AARP as an instructor for the 55 Alive driving course. He also volunteered at Roosevelt Elementary School as a local "grandparent" and coordinated the Last Man's Club for local veterans' organizations.

One of the most impressive among Chuck's accomplishments is the fact that, as a trumpet player and a patriot, he has played Taps at military funerals and Memorial Day programs for 70 years, starting in 1945 as a middle school student.

Despite his many interests and hobbies, and as his family grew to include five grandchildren, his main priority in life became his family. He often commented on how he couldn't believe he was so fortunate. His wife, Lee, his daughters Connie & Cheryl, his sons-in-law Kevin& John, and his grandchildren Carrissa, Chloe, Kyle, Heidi & Cameron were the highlight of his life. He could often be found at grandchildrens' baseball games, ski races and dance competitions in their growing-up years. As the grandchildren grew, he continued to amuse them with his corny jokes yet also enjoyed having deep conversations with them about anything from politics to sports to aviation. His knowledge and his curiosity knew no bounds.

A strong personality with a heart of gold. A family man with a one-of-a-kind sense of humor. The world lost a good one, and he will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife, Alice "Lee" Carr of Faribault; daughters, Connie (Kevin) Glarner of Faribault, and Cheryl (John) Strike of Northfield, MN; grandchildren, Carrissa and Chloe Glarner, and Kyle (Jennifer), Heidi, and Cameron Strike; great nieces and nephews, Cecelia, Frankie, Cindy, and Jerry; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Ed Carr.