Obituaries

 

Charles A. Tucker

POYNETTE  -- Charles A. Tucker, 89, of Poynette, WI, passed away on November 27, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI.  His wife, children, and other family members were by his side.

Charles was born in Wisconsin Dells on March 20, 1922, to Gilbert and Jenny Tucker.  He was the only child of their union but had several half- brothers and one half-sister from Gilbert’s first marriage.  Charles spent the majority of his childhood in the Dells and graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in 1939. He then went on the University of Wisconsin and later transferred to Stevens Point to obtain a degree in teaching.  However, his academics were interrupted by World War ll.  He enlisted in the Navy, where he spent most of his military career on various minesweepers.  Upon his return, he was introduced to a young waitress who worked with his mother at a local restaurant in the Dells.  After that first date, he and Barbara went on to marry seven months later in 1946 at the First Presbyterian Church of Wisconsin Dells.  They had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on November 23.

Charles returned to Stevens Point to continue his education and, eventually, earned a bachelor’s degree in education.  While he went to school, Barbara stayed home and cared for their three children as they came along and also tended to Charles’s father who had become a widower.
After receiving his degree, Charles accepted a teaching position in the Dells in the elementary school.  He taught there for many years, with a two year stint in Kansas.  During this period, he continued his education and eventually attained his Master’s Degree in education.  In 1962, Charles accepted a teaching position in Poynette , WI in the K-8 program.  After two years of commuting from the Dells to Poynette, Charles moved his family to Poynette in 1964.  At that time, he was appointed to the position of the curriculum coordinator in the K-8 program, and remained there until his retirement in 1984.  He is well-remembered as an educator who put students first and foremost as evidenced by the many returning graduates who visited him in the years following his retirement.  He also attained some notoriety as a prankster during his years at Poynette Elementary… his tricks were intended in fun, but one recipient didn’t find a fallen tree on his house to be all that amusing.  He had several willing partners in crime during some of these escapades, but this writer will Rob you of their exact names.

Charles was an avid outdoorsman throughout his life, and spent most of his free time either hunting small game and deer, or fishing.  He was accompanied by one or more of his three children during their childhood, and this tradition continued throughout his life.  As a dinner guest in the Tucker home, one would have to wonder at times if the main course was really the beef it was purported to be.  He was also known to enjoy a good game of euchre with friends around Poynette and at his cabin on Lake Mason in Briggsville.  There are others who may remember that a profitable game of poker was not something that Charles went out of his way to avoid.

Charles was a Mason, an Elk, a member of the Retired Teachers Association, and a life-long member, and past commander, of the American Legion of Wisconsin Dells.  He was also a member of the Air National Guard and retired after twenty years of service.  He commemorated his years of service with an Honors Flight to Washington DC last March.

 Charles is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara, children, Diane (Phil) Singleton of Oxford, Douglas (Beverly) of Oregon, and Dwaine (Carolyn) of Morrisonville:  five grandchildren, Nichole and Neil Singleton, Christopher and Nathan Tucker, and Stacy Tucker: three great-grandchildren, Michael Singleton, and Alex and Jackson Tucker. Charles was preceded in death by his parents and several siblings.

Special recognition goes out to some very good friends who were instrumental in allowing Charles to live out his later years in a relatively independent manner.  Kirby Spees who was always there to help fix whatever was needed, Mike McFadden who kept the snow shoveled, Leroy Brennaman who shared a thousand cups of coffee with Charlie at McDonalds, and Kyle McClain, who did the mowing …he and Charles formed a special bond after Charles became his mentor in high school.    And many, many thanks to all the friends in Charles and Barb’s lives who gave them so much enjoyment over the years.

A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at the Pflanz Funeral Home in Poynette with Bob Garske, and members of the Poynette Masonic Lodge, officiating.  Inurnment will be private.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 30, from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m., and on Thursday, from 1:00 p.m., until the time of the service at the funeral home.

 

 

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)