Charles R. Schlegel

Charles (Chuck) Robert Schlegel Chuck passed away on Monday the 25th of August, 2008 after a prolonged period of Alzheimer#8217;s Disease. He was born in Whitehall, Montana on December 15, 1928 to Peter and Eva Schlegel. He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife of thirty nine years, Mary Lou, who passed away in 1991, brother-in-laws Robert (Bob) Lester and James (Jim) Patterson and niece Tina Schlegel. Chuck is survived by his three sons Charles (Charlie) Schlegel, Michael (Mike) Schlegel and John Schlegel, his brother Del and sister-in-law Bea Schlegel, sister-in-law Pat Patterson, grand children Adam, Amanda, Hannah, Tyler Liv, nieces Mary Lou Patterson, Donna Grother and nephews Rob Patterson, Robert and Jeff Lester, Rick and Steve Schlegel and Tim Eddy and friends. Chuck grew up in tough times and left school after the seventh grade to help his family financially. Then in his teens, seeking a better life he took off seeing the county by hopping trains only to learn harder lessons of life which brought him home and propelled him to have a strong drive to succeed in life and to provide for himself and his family. During the war was one time that he exercised his entrepreneurial talents: as the train car loads of soldiers came through Butte, he would sell the soldiers soda pops and then as the trains left, the soldiers would throw the empty bottles out the windows which he would retrieve to collect the deposits on. In his late teens his mother decided to move the family to Bozeman. There upon he worked at a surplus store where he learned more about business. Then he met Dude Kuhnnes who owned a Texaco gas station. Chuck later became a partner and eventually bought Dude out. While running the filling station he met the love of his life Mary Lou Lester and married in the fall of 1952. In the early 50#8217;s he was in the National Guard. Chuck then had the opportunity to buy his first commercial building on South Church where he opened Chuck#8217;s Auto Wrecking. He later moved the operation out to North Seventh Avenue. During his tenure in business and the community he became well known for his honesty, kindness, ready smile and willingness to help people. This was in part what he was respected for. He contributed to several charities around town and in years past would deliver food baskets to the poor in Whitehall. There are many people in town that remember in their college days going out to Chuck#8217;s to buy a used part for their cars. Chuck believed in the sayings #8220;it is what you do with what you have that matters#8221;, #8220;save ten percent of what you earn#8221;, #8220;pay yourself first#8221; and #8220;always thank God for his givings#8221;. Later in life he enjoyed traveling with his wife and dancing. Chuck always enjoyed music and appreciated those that played music. Chuck would always see the good in people and not speak ill of them. Despite his environment growing up and not a lot of formal education, he became a self made man. He also greatly adored his family, friends and customers. In lieu of any flowers, the family asks that well-wishers donate to a charity of their choice, the Meals-On-Wheels program, 807 N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT 59715 or the Alzheimer#8217;s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave. 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001. A Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, August 28, 2008 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery.