Charles "Chick" Dykeman

1939 - 2025

Charles, 'Chick' Dykeman, was born in New Bedford, Mass to Kenneth H. and Josephine (Bolt) Dykeman, April 18, 1939. They moved to Waterloo when he was age 12, and he died in Beaufort, South Carolina October 7, 2025, in the loving arms of his wife of 50 years, Nancy (Neiman) Dykeman.

As owners of Dykeman Funeral Service, the family business grew from one location to seven in NE Iowa until it was sold to staff members in 1986. In the early 1980s, Chick was President of the International Order of the Golden Rule and wrote the guidelines for funeral service for the Federal Trade Commission. Along with his dedication to funeral service, he worked as Assistant Economist of the US Department of Labor for 20 years, retiring in 2017.

With daughter Juliana (Ryan) Curtis, they moved from Waterloo to Albuquerque in 1986 where Chick continued as Funeral Director until 1993 when they moved to El Paso, TX, St. Paul, MN, Evergreen, CO, and settled in Beaufort, SC in 2013 with Juliana's family.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, daughters Juliana Curtis, Cathy Dykeman, Shari (Bill) Tritch, and son Kenny (Anna) Dykeman. There are 6 grandchildren who loved their "Paca" Chick.

He graduated with honors from the University of Iowa in 1960 and completed mortuary school in Milwaukee. He joined the US Army and attained the rank of Captain.

Chick was a trusted Community Leader in numerous organizations, serving as Chairman or President of Waterloo Jaycees and the Area Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Community and Downtown Development, Kiwanis, Schoitz Hospital, Goodwill, United Way, Salvation Army, Waterloo Ambassadors, Waterloo City Council, Friendship Village, Red Cross, American Funeral Homes, Waterloo Community Theatre, First United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rotary Clubs of Rio Rancho, NM, El Paso, TX, St. Paul, MN, Evergreen CO, and Beaufort, SC. Both he and his mother, Jo, were recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Waterloo Area Chamber of Commerce. His love of fire-service began in 1963 after serving in the US Army and Reserves for 8 years and continued as a Friend of Fire Service in Albuquerque, El Paso, St. Paul, Beaufort, and as Volunteer Fire Chief/Board President in Evergreen.

As stage performers in Waterloo Community Theatre and El Paso El Chamizal Theatre, Chick and Nancy performed together in over 20 musicals. He is remembered as a fun-loving, clever man who provided guidance with humor making a huge mark in the communities he supported. His participation and contributions to music continued in church choirs and professional chorales in the communities where they resided.

A Final Farewell will be held at 1:00 p.m., December 8, at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Drive, Beaufort, SC 29907, with burial in Beaufort National Cemetery. His Celebration of Life will follow on April 18, 2026. his birthday, in Beaufort, SC. For more information, please contact Nancy through Anderson Funeral Home, 611 Robert Smalls Pkwy, Beaufort, SC 29906.

Chick was honored to be a friend to so many. To honor him you are invited to make a donation to Friends of Caroline Hospice, 329 Friends Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936. www.fochospice.org.

Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.