Charles Milton Wellnitz

Charles (Chuck) Milton Wellnitz, 89, of Edina, MN, peacefully returned to his heavenly home on January 7, 2020, following a brief illness.

He was survived by his wife and best friend, Nora, with whom he was married for 64 years. He was also survived by his two daughters Cate Faulkner of Edina, MN and Becky Yellen of Bloomfield Hills, MI and four grandchildren, Callan & Morgan Faulkner and Jacob & Joshua Yellen.

Chuck, Nora, Cate and Becky lived in Arlington Heights, IL, Hillsdale, NJ, Bay Village, OH, and West Bloomfield, MI. After a 20 year retirement in Sun City West, AZ Chuck and Nora moved to Edina, MN for their daughter, Cate to care for them.

Chuck was born to loving Christian parents, Edward and Edith Wellnitz on October 12, 1930, in Joliet, Illinois. They were a close family and very involved at the Epworth Methodist Church. His earliest memories of his mother in the garden, his father running a candy store and family adventures in the Rocky Mountains were prevalent all through his life. Homemade toffee and peanut brittle were always a special treat and throughout his life he was always moved by nature. He would encourage everyone around him to stop and take note of beautiful flowers, cloud formations, sunsets, and majestic views. The mountains were always his favorite place on earth.

He graduated from North Central College in 1952 and received his MBA from De Paul University in 1954. At Christmas, in 1954, he met Nora Spain, and they were married just a few months later on April 9, 1955.

Prior to his successful business career that culminated as the Marketing Director for Masco Corporation (Michigan) in the mid-90's, Chuck showed his prowess for hard work when he was a young boy by delivering newspapers and selling magazines. He was paid to sing solos at church on the weekends, he sold shoes and often juggled many jobs at once to make ends meet. He began to make his mark in the DIY (do-it-yourself) industry in the late 60's by creating some of the very first programs to help homeowners purchase their own lighting and plumbing products to "do it themselves "rather than relying on professionals. It was groundbreaking work that changed the way consumers viewed home repair.

While he had many gifts, his greatest gift of all was his rich and powerful tenor voice. He considered it a great privilege to be able to praise the Lord in song from age 7 and on. His family and friends fondly remember him singing "O Holy Night" for many years at the midnight service on Christmas Eve. Chuck's favorite singing memory was his involvement with The Debon-Aires male at Elgin High School. They were "rock stars" with almost 100 "gigs" during their senior year! During his retirement years in Sun City West, he enjoyed being a part of The Singing Shepherds (Shepherd of the Hills Methodist Church) bringing music and the Lord's word to 20+ care centers in the that area. At 85 yrs. old, with significant memory loss, Chuck sang "Oh Holy Night" at the assisted living facility's Christmas program and it was a moment to remember for the 100+ people that were in attendance. Chuck's voice sounded like he was 50, it soared to the highest notes effortlessly and he didn't miss a beat. It was astounding to see such a clear example of how music and lyrics are stored and retrieved in a part of the brain that is not affected by memory loss.

Chuck was a wonderful father, a loving husband, a mentor to many and a friend to all. He was confident in his faith and spent a lifetime nurturing his relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a gift to all who knew him that he was certain of the beauty and peace that awaited him after his passing.

A small service was held in January 2020 and plans for a larger memorial service were postponed because of Covid.

The family would like to thank the staff at Yorkshire of Edina for their support of Chuck & Nora during the final years of their lives.

Donations may be made in memory of Chuck Wellnitz to: Grace Hospice 1015 4th Avenue North, Suite 206 Minneapolis, MN 55405. They indeed do the work of angels.

Psalm 23:1-6 The Psalm of David"

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

*****ONLINE VIDEO & PHOTO FILES*****

NOTE: Just COPY AND PASTE these links to your browser to listen or view.

1941-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING "Home Sweet Home" on WGN radio station in Chicago at 10 years old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o77jysugmk53e9p/Home%20Sweet%20Home%201941.m4a?dl=0

1950-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING "Are You Lonesome Tonight" at 20 years old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/darqc26h01ox2aq/Are%20You%20Lonesome%20Tonight%201950.m4a?dl=0

1950-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING "Sometime" at 20 years old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nlbkv8tp3kvxrki/Sometime%201950.m4a?dl=0

1969-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING "Comfort Ye" at 39 yrs old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uscjwh5k1l6m6au/His%20Eye%20is%20on%20the%20Sparrow.mp4?dl=0

1975-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING A DUET CATE FAULKNER "I Walked Today" with Cate at 18 yrs old and Chuck at 45 yrs old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/t72s8p648v4olr8/I%20Walked%20Today%20with%20Cate%20Faulkner%201975.m4a?dl=0

1995-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING AT BECKY'S WEDDING "Sunrise, Sunset" at 65 years old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1k7nx9a6v0sh0ow/Sunrise%20Sunset%201995%20at%20Becky%27s%20Wedding.m4a?dl=0

1998-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING "Via Dolorosa" (a street in the Old City of Jerusalem which is traditionally held to be the path Jesus walked on the way to his Crucifixion) at 68 years old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/007on23ou93mo8b/Via%20Dolorosa%201998.m4a?dl=0

2003-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING A DUET WITH ARLYN PETERSON at 73 years old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fga9xrpqxq0y5rs/Down%20From%20His%20Glory%20duet%20with%20Arlyn%20Peterson%202003.m4a?dl=0

2005-AUDIO OF CHUCK SINGING "Because" to Nora at their 50th Wedding Anniversary Ceremony at 75 yrs old: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l3w21lasyd92g3a/Because-sang%20to%20Nora%20at%2050th%20Anniversary%20Ceremony%202005.m4a?dl=0

2012-VIDEO OF CHUCK SINGING "His Eye is on the Sparrow" 2012 at 82 yrs old in Sun City West, AZ: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uscjwh5k1l6m6au/His%20Eye%20is%20on%20the%20Sparrow.mp4?dl=0

2015-VIDEO OF CHUCK SINGING "Oh Holy Night" at 85 years old https://www.dropbox.com/s/gznu753q4lrq6uv/Oh%20Holy%20Night%20Video%20Chuck%20at%2085%20years%20old%21%20.mp4?dl=0

Thank you for being here and taking an interest in these memories.

Cate Faulkner, Edina, MN

catewithac@mac.com