Charles "Chuck" Umbreit

Charles L.   “Chuck” Umbreit, age 79 of Faribault, MN passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family.

Known affectionately to his grandkids and to those who loved him most as The Chucker or Chucky.  Chuck was born on October 15, 1943 to Milton and Mildred (Sparks) Umbreit in Faribault, MN.  He graduated from Faribault High School in 1961 and spent some time at Morningside and U of M.  He might have been a Garbage Man and worked at a carwash in California for a little bit or it might have been Chuck’s humor and imagination filling us full of garbage!  He came home and started working with his dad, Milt, in the family grocery store, Umbreits Grocery.  They then bought Tower Liquor and Chuck worked there until his retirement in 2007.  Chuck enjoyed every one of his customers and relished his role as head of PR and BS!  He loved the Wine Club crew and often said it was really his work wife, Anne Johnson, who was in charge!  His favorite part though was that he worked with his dad and then his son, Mark joined him at the store.  He could not have been more proud.

On September 28, 1969 Chuck married the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” (Jacobson) Umbreit.  They built a beautiful life together out on the lake.  In 1973 they welcomed their son Mark.  They enjoyed happy hours daily with a card game together in their three-season porch known to them as their “cabin”.  They took many wonderful trips, Holy Land, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, making lasting memories along the way.  They loved golfing together and reading in their orange chairs side by side.

Chuck had several hobbies that he enjoyed.  He had his private pilot license, earning it in 1966 and was active flying until mid ‘70’s.  He loved going on fishing trips throughout the years, up into Canada with friends, most recently deep-sea fishing with family in California.  He loved golfing with friends every year in Arizona.  Chuck had three hole in ones in his golfing career!  He was always up to golf, and was thrilled when his granddaughter Meredith took up golf, buying her a set of clubs and getting her some private lessons.  He loved his ’69 Camaro Pace car and enjoyed going to car shows with it.  He thoroughly loved that time with his grandson Jonah.  Chuck enjoyed all his time playing cards with his friends; he never met a cup of coffee he did not enjoy and he was always up for a laugh.

Family was important to Chuck.  When Chuck found out he had cancer and needed radiation, he looked on the positive side and absolutely loved the time he had with Mark and Pat in the car to and from radiation.  He never stopped talking, using the whole two hours there and back to tell stories and talk about life in general.  Chuck had a large extended family he always enjoyed seeing and getting together with.  He relished seeing his grandkids grow and being in the same town as them both and being able to watch their activities.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Mildred Umbreit, his parents in law, Daniel and Edith Jacobson, and his brother in law, Robert Piper.

Chuck is survived by his wife of 53 years Patricia Umbreit of Faribault; his son, Mark (and Jennifer) Umbreit of Faribault; his grandchildren Jonah and Meredith Umbreit, both of Faribault; his sister, Martha Piper of Shorewood; his sister in laws, Karen (Bob Garcia) of Shoreview and Cindy (and Jim) Litzel of Harbor City, CA and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the First English Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating.

Memorial visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to services.

The family prefers that memorials be directed to First English Lutheran Church or the Faribault Hospice Foundation in memory of Chuck.