Robert Charles

1929 - 2025

Robert Charles
May 1, 1929 - March 2, 2025
Robert William (Bob) Charles passed away at his home on March 2, 2025. He was 95. Bob was born in Canova, South Dakota on May 1, 1929, to William and Mabel (Thompson) Charles who preceded him in death.
Bob is survived and will be missed by his children and their spouses, six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren:
Bill and Charlotte Charles (Winfred, SD).
Robert and Jessica Charles (Canova, SD) William, Kailey, Wyatt.
David and Kayla Charles (Mission, SD) Henry, Ava, Ellis.
Thomas and Rachel Charles (Winfred, SD) Kennedy, Emersyn, Lainey, Sophie.
Mary and Ben Moore (Tea, SD) Grayson, Theo, Olivia.
Roberta (Bobbi) Thompson (Mellette, SD).
Melissa (Redfield, SD).
Beth and Wes Knepp (Morton, IL).
TJ and Joelle Ramey (Plymouth, MN) Maddox, Hayden.
Amy Charles (Aberdeen, SD).
His memory also lives on with his sisters, Willetta Anderson (Sun City, AZ), Donna and Clint Rohrer (Slayton, MN), special nieces Kris, Vicki, Joan, and Ann, and nephew Rob and their families.
Bob grew up on the Charles family farm homesteaded in 1880 near Winfred, SD which is still in the family and is one of the oldest originally owned homesteads in South Dakota. After graduating high school in 1947, he graduated from the AG program at South Dakota State University.
He then served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1951-1953 and was stationed in Karlsruhe and Heidelberg, Germany. He was sent to Germany because he was a farm boy who could operate and repair any piece of heavy equipment needed in the rebuilding efforts after WWII. He was honorably discharged in 1953.
Bob married Shirley Jorgensen on June 8, 1957, and they settled on a farm one mile east of the homestead to raise their children. His great passion was being a farmer, and he continued helping on the family farms well into his 90's. After retiring from farming, he was a contractor for the US Postal Service. He and Shirley moved to Howard, SD in 1992. They enjoyed 41 years of marriage until her passing in 1998. Bob enjoyed winters in Arizona, spending time with his sisters and their families and friends he made there through the years.
He was active in, and loved the farming community he lived in. He was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, served on the Canova School Board, and was a member of Dakota Pork. In recognition of his military service, he had the great honor of visiting Washington, DC with his son Bill on the Midwest Honor Flight in 2022.
Bob was very clear about his life's purpose: Serving God, and serving his family, friends, neighbors and strangers. His faithful life has, and will continue to provide a lasting, positive example to many people, especially his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Shirley; Brother-in-Law Andy Andersen, and nephew David Rohrer.
Visitation will be at Bethany Lutheran Church, 43490 SD-34, Howard, SD on Thursday, March 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be at Bethany on Friday, March 7 at 11 a.m. A private burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Kinzley Funeral Home in Madison, SD is assisting with arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church or Midwest Honor Flight.