Charles Frederick Birnel, 75, of Missoula, passed away on Wednesday at St. Patrick Hospital from complications of a head injury. He is now at peace, free from dialysis needles, falls and pain.
He was the son of James and Emily Birnel. He grew up in the Kalispell area. Having a great mechanical mind, he began an automotive apprenticeship at age 15.
He enlisted in the Army in January 1946 and served with the occupational forces in Germany. He was recalled during the Korean War, with the final discharge occurring Aug. 29, 1952, from Fort Missoula.
His job as a heavy equipment mechanic took him many places over the years, including three seasons on the Aleyska pipeline in northern Alaska. He retired in April 1990 and told everyone he never looked back.
On Aug. 29, 1952, he married Grace McDonald in Columbia Falls. They made their home in Kalispell until moving to Missoula in 1972.
In his younger years, Chuck was an avid hunter and fisherman. He made sure he came home with at least a load of firewood or mushrooms if the game eluded him.
Summers were spent floating and fishing the rivers with his family or boating and camping with family and friends. Using his mechanical talents, he performed "surgery" on his daughter's talking doll, endearing him to the neighborhood children.
Chuck spent countless hours on his woodworking projects. He was always adding more "toys" to his tool collection to make the next project easier and more beautiful. Each piece was a labor of love.
He was a member of the IUOE Local 400 and American Legion Post 27, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Grace; daughter and granddaughter Dawn and Devon; daughter Dr. Deann; a sister, Viola; numerous nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many dear friends.
His parents; brothers William, George and Ernest; sisters Devora Wolf, Grace Dougherty, Tessie Childress, Maude Harder, Bessie Birnel and Jean Tucker; and three nephews preceded him in death.
In accordance with Chuck's modest way of life, no formal services were held. His family invited visitors to gather to celebrate his life from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Garden City Funeral Home. Interment was on Wednesday at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.
The family suggested memorials to the dialysis unit at St. Patrick Hospital, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT; or American Heart Association, 1900 Brooks St., Missoula, Mt.
Arrangements were by Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
(An Obituary Source - Missoulian)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was the son of James and Emily Birnel. He grew up in the Kalispell area. Having a great mechanical mind, he began an automotive apprenticeship at age 15.
He enlisted in the Army in January 1946 and served with the occupational forces in Germany. He was recalled during the Korean War, with the final discharge occurring Aug. 29, 1952, from Fort Missoula.
His job as a heavy equipment mechanic took him many places over the years, including three seasons on the Aleyska pipeline in northern Alaska. He retired in April 1990 and told everyone he never looked back.
On Aug. 29, 1952, he married Grace McDonald in Columbia Falls. They made their home in Kalispell until moving to Missoula in 1972.
In his younger years, Chuck was an avid hunter and fisherman. He made sure he came home with at least a load of firewood or mushrooms if the game eluded him.
Summers were spent floating and fishing the rivers with his family or boating and camping with family and friends. Using his mechanical talents, he performed "surgery" on his daughter's talking doll, endearing him to the neighborhood children.
Chuck spent countless hours on his woodworking projects. He was always adding more "toys" to his tool collection to make the next project easier and more beautiful. Each piece was a labor of love.
He was a member of the IUOE Local 400 and American Legion Post 27, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Grace; daughter and granddaughter Dawn and Devon; daughter Dr. Deann; a sister, Viola; numerous nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many dear friends.
His parents; brothers William, George and Ernest; sisters Devora Wolf, Grace Dougherty, Tessie Childress, Maude Harder, Bessie Birnel and Jean Tucker; and three nephews preceded him in death.
In accordance with Chuck's modest way of life, no formal services were held. His family invited visitors to gather to celebrate his life from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Garden City Funeral Home. Interment was on Wednesday at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.
The family suggested memorials to the dialysis unit at St. Patrick Hospital, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT; or American Heart Association, 1900 Brooks St., Missoula, Mt.
Arrangements were by Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
(An Obituary Source - Missoulian)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charles Frederick Birnel, 75, of Missoula, passed away on Wednesday at St. Patrick Hospital from complications of a head injury. He is now at peace, free from dialysis needles, falls and pain.
He was the son of James and Emily Birnel. He grew up in the Kalispell area. Having a great mechanical mind, he began an automotive apprenticeship at age 15.
He enlisted in the Army in January 1946 and served with the occupational forces in Germany. He was recalled during the Korean War, with the final discharge occurring Aug. 29, 1952, from Fort Missoula.
His job as a heavy equipment mechanic took him many places over the years, including three seasons on the Aleyska pipeline in northern Alaska. He retired in April 1990 and told everyone he never looked back.
On Aug. 29, 1952, he married Grace McDonald in Columbia Falls. They made their home in Kalispell until moving to Missoula in 1972.
In his younger years, Chuck was an avid hunter and fisherman. He made sure he came home with at least a load of firewood or mushrooms if the game eluded him.
Summers were spent floating and fishing the rivers with his family or boating and camping with family and friends. Using his mechanical talents, he performed "surgery" on his daughter's talking doll, endearing him to the neighborhood children.
Chuck spent countless hours on his woodworking projects. He was always adding more "toys" to his tool collection to make the next project easier and more beautiful. Each piece was a labor of love.
He was a member of the IUOE Local 400 and American Legion Post 27, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Grace; daughter and granddaughter Dawn and Devon; daughter Dr. Deann; a sister, Viola; numerous nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many dear friends.
His parents; brothers William, George and Ernest; sisters Devora Wolf, Grace Dougherty, Tessie Childress, Maude Harder, Bessie Birnel and Jean Tucker; and three nephews preceded him in death.
In accordance with Chuck's modest way of life, no formal services were held. His family invited visitors to gather to celebrate his life from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Garden City Funeral Home. Interment was on Wednesday at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.
The family suggested memorials to the dialysis unit at St. Patrick Hospital, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT; or American Heart Association, 1900 Brooks St., Missoula, Mt.
Arrangements were by Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
(An Obituary Source - Missoulian)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was the son of James and Emily Birnel. He grew up in the Kalispell area. Having a great mechanical mind, he began an automotive apprenticeship at age 15.
He enlisted in the Army in January 1946 and served with the occupational forces in Germany. He was recalled during the Korean War, with the final discharge occurring Aug. 29, 1952, from Fort Missoula.
His job as a heavy equipment mechanic took him many places over the years, including three seasons on the Aleyska pipeline in northern Alaska. He retired in April 1990 and told everyone he never looked back.
On Aug. 29, 1952, he married Grace McDonald in Columbia Falls. They made their home in Kalispell until moving to Missoula in 1972.
In his younger years, Chuck was an avid hunter and fisherman. He made sure he came home with at least a load of firewood or mushrooms if the game eluded him.
Summers were spent floating and fishing the rivers with his family or boating and camping with family and friends. Using his mechanical talents, he performed "surgery" on his daughter's talking doll, endearing him to the neighborhood children.
Chuck spent countless hours on his woodworking projects. He was always adding more "toys" to his tool collection to make the next project easier and more beautiful. Each piece was a labor of love.
He was a member of the IUOE Local 400 and American Legion Post 27, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Grace; daughter and granddaughter Dawn and Devon; daughter Dr. Deann; a sister, Viola; numerous nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many dear friends.
His parents; brothers William, George and Ernest; sisters Devora Wolf, Grace Dougherty, Tessie Childress, Maude Harder, Bessie Birnel and Jean Tucker; and three nephews preceded him in death.
In accordance with Chuck's modest way of life, no formal services were held. His family invited visitors to gather to celebrate his life from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Garden City Funeral Home. Interment was on Wednesday at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.
The family suggested memorials to the dialysis unit at St. Patrick Hospital, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT; or American Heart Association, 1900 Brooks St., Missoula, Mt.
Arrangements were by Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
(An Obituary Source - Missoulian)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
