Charles "Chuck" Van Wyhe

Chuck “Tuna” Van Wyhe was born on March 25, 1957, to Harold and Antonia (Hop) Van Wyhe in Luverne, Minnesota. He was baptized on May 26, 1957, and later received his confirmation in 1986, both at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Growing up, Chuck played basketball, tennis, baseball, and kick-the-can with his siblings and friends. He was very musically talented as he played trumpet in pep band, played piano, and played the organ at the Blue Mound Inn. Charlie Tuna became his nick name in middle school after his basketball coach told him, “Sorry, Charlie. You’re as slow as old Abe Lincoln in the hallway.” The name stuck ever since. Tuna attended Luverne High School and graduated in 1975. He furthered his education at Willmar Vocational College and studied electronics, graduating in 1977. He was employed at Van Wyhe TV from 1964 to 2004. He then worked at Daktronics as a Quality Assurance Engineer, a position he held from 2006 until the present. On Saturday, November 8, 2025, Tuna died on his way to the deer stand to do what he loved at the age of 68 years, 7 months, and 14 days.

Tuna was very involved in the community. He was a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Jaycees, and the Rock County Sportsman’s Club. He was also an influential charter member of the Rock County Pheasants Forever. His hard work and dedication to the program will always be remembered by his family. The first banquet was held on September 24, 1984, which he helped organize and would continue to assist with the banquets in the years following. In 1993, Chuck was awarded the Long Spur Award. In 2001, he was given the Golden 50 Honoree Award from the Rock River Gobblers for his continuous efforts and dedication to wildlife and habitat restoration of land acquisitioning. In 2008, he was nominated as a Top 25 Volunteer in the nation for National Pheasants Forever, along with being appointed to the Minnesota Pheasants Forever Hall of Fame. Those who loved and appreciated all his hard work will always remember his influential role in acquiring all but one of the current Pheasants Forever public hunting lands in Rock County. He had a dream and goal for Rock County, and he put in the work to make it happen.

Tuna was known for his cooking skills on the grill and his famous fish fries. He made the best steaks, burgers, chislic, smoked meat, etc. He was always known for his height. He truly was passionate about the outdoors and sharing that passion with others. It was important to him for his kids and grandkids to learn and experience the joys of being outdoors. He always claimed he was out in the church of God “The Great Outdoors”. He was an entertainer, and we will all miss his many “Tuna jokes”.

Tuna loved being outdoors, hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, trap shooting, driving the countryside scouting for deer, camping, and campfires out back at home. He was always lending a helping hand either mowing lawns, tilling gardens, moving snow, fixing electronics, or doing yard work for his wife, kids, and parents. He was always putting his family’s needs first.

The dedicated, hardworking, and determined Tuna, is the one who will be remembered by those who loved him.

Tuna is survived by his wife, Norma Van Wyhe of Luverne; children, Nick (Traci Thoreson) Van Wyhe of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mike (Jess) Van Wyhe of Brandon, South Dakota, and Stephanie (Clint) Roozenboom of Steen, Minnesota; grandchildren, Madelynn Van Wyhe, Jackson Van Wyhe, Hadley Roozenboom, Kohen Roozenboom, Rylann Roozenboom, and two arriving in 2026; siblings, Harlan Van Wyhe of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Paula (Jim) Jelken of Luverne, and Paul (Erika) Van Wyhe of Fort Mohave, Arizona; parents, Harold and Toni Van Wyhe of Luverne; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Cornie and Alice Van Wyhe and Peter and Annie Hop; and in-laws, Corky and Pearl Reynhout.