David J. Charles, 72, Luxemburg, David went to the arms of his dad and mom on Sunday, May 12, 2024. He was born on September 6, 1951, to the late Wallace and Geraldine (Bader) Charles, and he was their only son. He was a 1969 graduate of Luxemburg-Casco High School. He lived in Duvall his whole life and later in life took over the home farm. David was born a farmer and died a farmer. He was very proud of what he did.
David farmed with his dad until Wallace's passing and then with his son Dennis. When he gave up the cows, he kept running the land and also went into trucking. He would haul farm equipment for the local implements and go nationwide. David would leave early Monday morning and get home late Thursday or sometime Friday. When it was time to get the fieldwork done, David would take off from trucking to get it all done. He would do the same when it was time to get the crops off. He was his own boss so he could do what he wanted. Pat was with him in his later years of farming and trucking and helped him as much as she could. She enjoyed being by his side no matter what he was doing.
When David had his heart attack in fall of 2018, he was told he would have to slow down. For those that know David, know how that went over. He's lucky he had the winter months to recuperate. David gave up trucking but still worked on the farm. He would still help out the local implements if they needed something picked up that day. In 2020 David ended up back in the hospital with blood clots in his lungs. Again, he got told to slow down. In spring of 2023 he ended up back in the hospital for colon cancer. They said they got it all. Again, he was told he would have to slow down. This time he listened to the doctors. He still did his work, it just took him longer to get it done. Every time he was in the hospital the nurses would ask him what he liked to do for a hobby. He always said I'm a farmer, that's a 24/7 job, but the thing he liked doing best was being in the combine.
David kept telling Pat she was the best thing that happened to him in a long time and how happy he was she came into his life. She went out on the road with him while he was still trucking and helped him on the farm. David decided it was time to make his high school sweetheart his wife. In June of 2022 with family and some special friends, they all watched while Dennis (David's son) performed the ceremony.
When David got his driver's license that started his driving career. He would pick up a truck load of canned milk at farmers, bring to the Duvall Cheese Factory every morning before he went to school. He did that until he graduated. He ran his own fix it shop on the farm and he would go to the farmers if needed. Once he retired from driving over the road he still kept busy. He would help Aaron Guilette driving semi when it was harvest time, helped John Malcore hauling cattle and he helped Turk at the tractor pulls.
David is survived by his loving wife, Pat; his daughter, Lynn; son, Dennis and Lena; three grandchildren, Codi (Jess) McIntyre, Brandi (Jacob) Charles, Cole (Emily) Charles; and three great-grands, Evelyn and Corbin McIntyre, and Isla Charles. Pat's children and their families, Tracy and Rollie, Tim and Connie, Troy and Jennifer, Terry, Claudia, and Joe, Crystal and Chad; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grands. David's sister, Debbie and John; sister-in-law, Linda and Larry; brothers-in-law, Alan, James, Pete and Sharon; and many nephews and nieces. David was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Geraldine; in-laws, Ed and Leona Derenne; sisters-in-law, Janet, Judy, Karen, and Bonnie; and three of Pat's grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 1-3 pm at Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services - Casco. A memorial service will take place at 3:00 pm with Pat Ratajczyk. Online Condolence messages may be shared at KinnardFCS.com.
Pat wants to say a special "Thank You" to Dennis, Codi, Luke, Jesse, Issac, Tony, Scott, and Jerry for all the times you came and helped him out. You were just a call away and that means more to her than you will ever know. Thank you for everything you did.
Pat, Lynn, Dennis and Lena would like to thank Brenda from Moments Hospice for being the amazing nurse that she is. She helped all of us getting through a rough time.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
1:00 - 3:00 pm (Central time)
Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services - Casco
Saturday, May 18, 2024
3:00 - 3:30 pm (Central time)
Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services - Casco
Visits: 3355
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors