Charles William Schaller Jr. of Waukon, Iowa, and formerly of Norwalk died Nov. 12, 2009.
The son of Charles W. and Bertha (Weibel) Schaller, he was born Sept. 6, 1934, in La Crosse. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic Church in Norwalk. Chuck attended St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic School, Sparta High School and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1964.
On Sept. 6, 1958, he married Magdalen “Meg” Hemmersbach at St. John the Baptist Church in Wilton. Chuck and Meg moved to Waukon in 1964. He worked for Ed Phillips and Sons Distributing in La Crosse from 1962 to 1986. He then went to work for Myers Cox Distributing in Dubuque until he retired.
Chuck and Meg owned and operated the Opera House from 1974 until 1999, giving back to the community by donating many hours of his time and the use of the building. After retiring, he worked for NEICA transit and was a volunteer driver for the DAV van.
Chuck was a past member of the Jaycee and Catholic Order Foresters. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council 1570, where he held several offices and was the district deputy for many years. Chuck was also a member of the 4th Degree, where he served as the Faithful Navigator. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, following the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes.
Survivors include his wife, Meg of Waukon; his children, Sandra (Alan) Peake of Decorah, Iowa, Gregory (Kim) Schaller of Waukon, Jeffrey (Alyce) Schaller of Decorah, David (Debra) Shaller, of Bettenforf, Iowa, Lisa (Kirk) Snitker of Waukon, Mary (John) Taylor of Woodbridge, Va., Amy (Matt) Hacker of Springboro, Ohio, and Timothy (Patty) Schaller of Minnetonka, Minn.; 22 grandchildren, Jeremy and Scott Peake, Zach, Seth, Samantha, and Chaste Schaller, Jordan, Andrew and Autumn Schaller, Abbey Schaller, Tara Reinhardt, Laurel and Derek Smitker, Mandy Meyer, Aaron Taylor, Megan and Conner Hofer, Hunter, Corin and Garret Hacker, Charles and Joseph Schaller; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Gerald (Lorain) Schaller of Warrens; and a sister, Theresa Lehner of Norwalk, WI. He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Douglas; an infant daughter, Theresa; a brother, Dean Schaller; and a sister, Bernadette Petrey.
Funeral services were Monday, Nov. 16, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Waukon. Father Joseph Schneider and the Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiated. Interment was in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. The Allamakee County Veterans provided military rites. Honorary casket bearers were Dave Duncklee, Jens Kallenvang, Gary Rumph, Gerald Schroedel, Richard Schulte, Tom Schulte, Darrel Stellingwerf, and Bill Votsmeier. Casket beareers were Chuck’s grandchildren.
“To Those I Love, and Those Who Love Me”
When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me in tears,
Be happy that we had these years.
I gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it’s time I traveled on alone.
So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need, call and I will come.
Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near;
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile and ‘Welcome Home.’
‘Welcome Home.””
