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Obituary for Charles R. Carpenter II
Chuck was born March 7th, 1939 at the Oelwein Hospital, weighing 3 lb., 15 oz. He was named Charles Richard Carpenter II, after his grandfather. Chuck attended schools in north central and northeast Iowa graduating in 1957 from Blairsburg High School. Though an only child, he did experience having a part time older sister when his cousin Pootie (Sadie) stayed with them in the winter during basketball season. Pootie’s family lived on a farm and it was difficult for her father to transport her for daily basketball practice.
At school Chuck played in the band for a brief time – until it interfered with baseball. In high school he played baseball, basketball, and became interested in photography. He played third base for the American Legion Baseball league. While playing baseball in 1955 he broke his left ankle and in 1956 he broke his right ankle. Chuck’s Dad helped him build hutches and he did a thriving business raising rabbits.
Chuck attended junior college for a year and then his family moved to Des Moines and he graduated from Drake with a degree in Finance. He married Marlene Griffin (1938-1997) in 1961 and shortly afterward he was drafted. While stationed in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Chuck was recruited to teach math to potential army medics.
After his Army stint, Chuck and Marlene moved back to Des Moines. Chuck worked as a Corporate Credit Manager at Brody’s, Massey Ferguson, and EMCOR. Charles “Chip” Richard Carpenter III was adopted 9-27-64, followed by the birth of Matthew Bernard (2-20-66), Thomas Arthur (9-20-68), and Ted James (10-15-70. Chuck was well known for his practical jokes as a teenager and an adult.
Chuck became involved in coaching Little League for several years. Attending the boys’ school athletics and musical endeavors, and being active in the Catholic Church kept the family busy. After the boys were through high school, photography became more than a hobby when Carpenter Wedding Photography was launched with assistance from Christian Photo. For several years Chuck and Marlene’s weekends were spent photographing weddings in central Iowa. This was discontinued when Marlene was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease several years before her death in 1997.
Chuck lost part of his pancreas and became an insulin dependent diabetic after an almost three months stay in the hospital in 1996. In 1997 he underwent a five-heart bypass surgery. As a part of his recovery Chuck began riding a bike with support from Irwin’s Bike Store in Johnston. After marrying Linda Christensen in 2004, Linda introduced Chuck to travel, visiting family in Colorado and California, taking a cruise to Alaska and around the Hawaiian Islands. Several winters were spent on South Padre Island, Texas. Chuck went on some week-long bike rides and introduced Linda to bike riding and photography. Chuck also took up watch collecting. Chuck moved from independent living, to assisted living, and then to his final stay at the Wesley Acres Health Center. Right up to his last days Chuck continued to attract friends. His sense of humor and genuine interest in people meant that he was well loved wherever he went.
A private family Mass of Christian Burial was held 11:00 A.M. Monday, December 11, 2017 at All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart. A private family wake/rosary service was held Sunday evening at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Stuart. Burial was in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Father Raymond Higgins and Father Mark Owusu officiated the mass service. (Arrangements were handled by Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Stuart).
