Charles Brewer House Jr.

Charles Brewer House Jr
April 7, 2024
On April 7, 2024, Charles Brewer House Jr. died peacefully in Santa Rosa, California. He was 96 years old. His optimism, his sense of humor, his intellectual curiosity, and above all his genuine love of life, are memories that will live on long after his passing, cherished by all who knew him.
Born on June 24, 1927, in Galesburg, Illinois, to Charles Brewer and Sarah Margueritte House, the family was soon forced to relocate to Ojibway, Wisconsin, due to his mother's health. Despite their extreme poverty, the family made the best of their circumstances, and Charlie remembered the freedom of life in the north woods as being some of the best days of his life.
The family eventually moved back to Rio, Illinois, where they established a modest farm. The House family grew to include, in addition to Charles and Sally, younger sisters Janie and Beth.
Charlie loved the life on the farm, but like so many other sons of the plains and prairie, he was drawn irresistibly to the sea. He signed up for the Navy ROTC program immediately upon graduating from Galesburg High, which enabled him to attend the University of Nebraska. It was here that he was finally able to pursue his love of learning, and it was also here that he found June, the true and lasting love of his life. After college, he spent three memorable years serving his country in the Pacific, before and during the Korean War, and then on April 9, 1950, Margery June Hornby became his wife. Their love affair continued until the day he died, a marriage lasting more than 73 years.
A master's degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, ordination as a Presbyterian minister, and a move to Grand Rapids, Michigan began his career as a clergyman and a theologian, and a further move to Alma College in Alma, Michigan began his academic career, as a teacher and lecturer. By this time he was also the head of a family which included 5 sons, an unruly brood that frequently caused him great consternation. But they also gave him great joy, and his leadership was always fair, always kind, and always combined with a playful sense of humor. He instilled in his "troops" a love, respect and resiliency which has stood the test of time.
These were years when he and June jointly raised their children in a spirit of good-natured camaraderie, and in 1964 the family relocated yet again. His appointment as head of the Department of Humanities at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka faced him with one of his greatest challenges yet, to which he rose admirably, establishing the first African Studies curriculum in the newly independent nation. His tenure as a lecturer, administrator, and cultural ambassador in Nigeria was abruptly cut short at the outbreak of the Biafran war of independence. His family was evacuated overnight, but Charlie remained on the campus to hurriedly tie up loose ends, with gunfire echoing nearby.
Returning to the US, the family relocated to Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, where he resumed his career as a dedicated teacher, maintained his commitment to the church as a clergyman, and ascended the ranks to become a respected member of the administration, eventually earning his doctoral degree in Education. A further advancement in his career occurred in 1970 when he joined the faculty of Central Michigan University, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. After several years at CMU, he relocated yet again, and in 1983 began his tenure as President of Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Under his leadership, VCSU emerged as a leading small institution of higher learning. In the vast open spaces of the prairie, he led efforts to transform isolation into connectivity, anticipating the power of long-distance learning in the pre-internet era.
After retiring from this position in 1993, he and June made the transition to a home in the woods of northern Minnesota. The community of Park Rapids was enriched by their presence, Trinity Lutheran Church was energized by his leadership and eloquence from the pulpit, and he was able to pursue his love of sailing, woodcarving, and carpentry, playing the organ, and, as always, faithfully following the fortunes of his beloved "Cornhuskers" on the gridiron. He also found fulfillment in establishing a relationship between Trinity Lutheran Church and the Red Lake Reservation and was fundamental in outreach programs to that sizable Native American community.
In 2014 he and June relocated one last time, to Santa Rosa, California, to be closer to family in their later years. Surrounded by June's paintings, Charlie's woodcarvings, and the many artifacts they had thoughtfully acquired over the years, they lived a quiet and comfortable life, their relationship only growing stronger throughout their final years together.
He died peacefully on April 7, 2024. He was 96 years old.
Charlie was pre-deceased by his sister Sally. He is survived by his wife June, his sisters Janie and Beth, his sons Charles, David, Stephen, James, and Robert, and their wives Tracy, Denise, Kim, Nancy, and Dilek, 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Throughout the many stages of his long life, as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a preacher, a teacher, and a genuinely compassionate human being, he never failed to find the life-affirming aspect of any situation. His hearty laugh, his infectious enthusiasm, and his genuine concern for others will be fondly remembered by all who had the good fortune to know him.
Family and friends are encouraged to leave their own memories of Charlie and sign the guest book on the Legacy.com website