Charles E. Siedschlag

RMCS USN-RET
Born in Sheboygan, WI on May 27, 1942
Died in Appleton, WI on January 8, 2025
Charles (Chuck) passed away peacefully in the few moments he was alone, comfortable in his bed at Ballard Glenn in Appleton, WI. His family had been at his side for days, holding his hand and telling him stories. But he always did things his way, and nobody should be surprised that he passed away when he was damn good and ready.
Chuck lived on Grams Ct in Sheboygan for part of his youth, then spent the rest of his childhood in Little Chute. He graduated from Kimberly High School in 1960. When his parents moved to Appleton that summer, he joined the US Navy. He served for 23 ½ years on the USS Robert L Wilson DD847, USS Robison DDG12, and the USS Spiegel Grove LSD32, where he served as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. During his Navy career he lived in Hawaii, Trinidad, Hancock Michigan, Bainbridge Maryland, San Diego and Long Beach California, Naples Italy, and Virginia Beach Virginia. He visited many exotic (and some not so exotic) ports in various parts of the world, although he regretted never having the opportunity to cross the equator. After his active-duty career ended, Chuck was able to move the family back home to the Fox Cities where he worked as a recruiter for the Navy until he fully retired in April 1984. He often regretted leaving the Navy as he missed the camaraderie of his shipmates and the travel. Chuck didn't boast but he was proud of the many medals and ribbons that he had earned during his service, including one with the Combat "V" for Valor for his service in Vietnam. Sometime during that busy Navy career, he found the time to marry his amazing wife Susan Keen on October 7th, 1967 and raise 2 daughters, Kimberly Plautz of Manitowoc and Wendi Butkovich of Kaukauna. He also had so many cats and dogs along the way, there is no way to mention them all.
Chuck didn't stay retired long. He attended courses at Fox Valley Technical College and worked for the Target Corporation where he served as a Maintenance Supervisor (and as Santa). When the girls had both graduated and gone to college, Chuck and Sue took the opportunity to work for the Outagamie County Housing Authority where Chuck served as the County Maintenance Supervisor and Sue was his sidekick and took care of Randall Court apartments where they lived. It was during that time that they bought the cottage in Gresham, which became their retirement home for many years.
Chuck and Sue spent their long retirement between Wisconsin and Florida for many years. They had a comfortable place at Rice Creek Park in Riverview, FL where they made friends that became their winter family. Sue had a cousin, Audrey Howze, who lives down there and they enjoyed reconnecting with that side of the family and spending Thanksgivings, Christmases, weddings, births, and so much more with the southern family.
Chuck lost his beloved Sue to liver cancer on July 31, 2022. That loss hit the entire family, here and south and all over, very hard. Sue took care of everyone, but especially Chuck. So, he had to downsize, much against his wishes, and moved to Aspire in Kimberly, then to King Veteran's Home, then to Ballard Glenn in Appleton. The family cannot express how grateful we are to the staff at Ballard Glenn and the entire team at St. Croix Hospice for treating Dad like the wonderful human being that he is, and for loving him on days that he tried to be unlovable.
He is also preceded in death by son in-law Dan Plautz, brothers-in-law Denny Mullins and John Griesel, his parents Edgar and Elsie Siedschlag, Sue's parents Harold Keen and Millie and Ken Vogt, nephew Bill Keen, cousins, aunts, uncles, and dear friends all over the world, too numerous to name.
Chuck leaves behind his daughters Kim and Wendi (Paul Weisbrod), sister Lehann Mullins, in-laws Tom and Gail Keen, Kathy and John Keddell, and Janet Griesel, nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and other loved ones. He will be missed by many people.
A Funeral Service for Chuck will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. Richmond St., Appleton, with full military honors. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 3:00 p.m. and will continue until the time of the service. Chuck will be laid to rest in Appleton's Highland Memorial Park. For online condolences, please visit www.valleyfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, Chuck has requested donations be made to Old Glory Honor Flight Inc. of Appleton, as he spoke often of the trip he made in 2019 to visit the military memorials in Washington D.C.
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