Charles Abruzzi

Charles Abruzzi



Life-long Cubs fan Charles "Chuck" Abruzzi passed away in Rapid City, SD on Dec 2, 2023. He was an only child and grandchild which afforded him some special considerations, including but not limited to being allowed to smoke and eat German streusel in his Grandmother's living room. He was born on October 18, 1937 to Charles and Margaret (nee Miesler) Abruzzi. He grew up in a 3rd floor flat walking distance from Wrigley Field in the windy city of Chicago, graduated from Lane Tech High School, and was a founding member of the Continentals.

Chuck worked for a short time at the Leslie Welding Company before becoming a union employee with the Milwaukee Railroad. Upon graduating with honors from the School of Hard Knocks he tackled computer programming - a career field in its infancy - and found his niche! During this time he drove around town in a 1956 Chevy 2-Door Belair and a Lincoln Continental.

Chuck was proud to be a US Army veteran, having served in Germany defending the Fulda Gap at the same base as Elvis. His duties included taking the laundry into town and being a goodwill ambassador (at the local bar) while waiting for the laundry. He met his future wife, LaVonne Skalicky, while dressed in uniform and went from a Lincoln to a VW Bug. They were married in her home town of Powers Lake, ND on April 24, 1965 and blessed with three marvelous children, a '67 Ford Mustang and shortly after that, a station wagon.

As a husband and father Chuck was happiest when visiting with family and friends for annual celebrations, Cubs-Cardinals games, champagne brunches, and trips to the casino where he enjoyed uncanny luck at the slot machines. He was devoted to his family, and liked to accompany them to swim meets, track meets, band concerts, dance practices and chiropractor visits.

As empty nesters, Chuck and LaVonne enjoyed traveling, visiting South Korea and Germany where their oldest son was stationed. After an early retirement, Chuck attended college where he pursued golf, tennis and painting. For years, Chuck's daily schedule included salsa dancing at the gym and watching Wheel of Fortune and Perry Mason - looking for the ending to the episode he missed when his younger son was born.

Chuck was a collector of many things including stamps (which his young daughter used to decorate her suitcase as if she had been overseas), coins, stories and baseball caps. He is fondly remembered for his collection of holiday candles and Cubs attire/memorabilia, which he never had enough of!

He is survived by his wife, LaVonne; his sister-in-law, Jan; his children and their spouses, David and Chrissy, RuthAnn and Jeff, Daniel and Christina; five grandchildren, William, Anthony, Billie, Charlie and Michael; a great-granddaughter; his favorite niece, Melissa and Nick, and their daughter Giana; and extended family in Des Moines, IA.

After 86 trips around the sun, the lighthearted Chuck will be terribly missed.

Roll over Beethoven, and tell Tchaikovsky the news. As Chuck would say, "When your number's up, it's up."