My loving husband, Charles (Chuck) Louis Chepke 74, died July 4th 2021 after suffering many years from the effects from Agent Orange. His heart finally just gave out.
Chuck was born in California and moved to Ohio as a child. His father, Charles Louis Chepke Sr. and his mother, Maxine Tisher Chepke preceeded him in death.
Chuck graduated from Lake Milton High school and went straight into the Army where he served 2 tours in Vietnam. He came home a decorated hero and was spit on by Americans. He worked construction all his life, moving to Mooresville in 1993.
Chuck was a gentle giant and he loved hanging with his fellow Veterans. He also loved Nascar but lost interest when his driver Dale Earnhardt was killed.
Chuck and I were married in 1995 and he loved my kids unconditionally. I only had 2 Grands at the time. He’s always been their “other” Dad. He was an amazing Grandpa especially when the new babies started arriving. He always loved holding the latest new one. We ended up with 16 including 3 sets of twins. We had a good life together and enjoyed many great times with our friends.
Chuck is survived by his wife Jan, his “other” kids Mike and Steph and Kim, whose husband Doug died in 2019, also survived by 7 Grands and spouses and 9 Great-grands. Shane, Tasha and Dylan, Nikki and Dylan, Reece and Ben (twins), Logan and Riley (twins). Great-grands are Bella, Ayden, Alexis, Matthew, Gabriel and Aurora (twins), Shayna, Cheyenne and #16 Mason!!!
He was a good man, a loving husband and wonderful “other” Dad and provided well for his family.
Chuck is also survived by his sister Cheryl who kept in touch with him all these years. They talked on the phone all the time. Some survivers are not listed because I don’t even know where they are or how to reach them. Rest in Peace, Chuck. I’ll always love you.
There will be a graveside service in Salisbury with full Military honors in early August. As soon as I have a firm date, I will post it. Later in September there will be a Celebration of his life. Date to be announced later.
Chuck also leaves behind his beloved Cricket who spent the last 5 years in his bed with him, and Sam the cat we rescued 12 years ago, then Sassy our 1 year old who weighs 83 lbs. He left me well protected!!!
Thank you for giving Chuck the life you did and he deserved!
The summer of 1960 I moved from Youngstown to Lake Milton. Down the street was a family of two older sisters and the younger brother, Chuck. Very quickly I was taken in by the Chepky’s as if I was yet another brother.
Over the next few years I danced with the sisters at the Legion and high school. I had a crush the then on younger sister Becky and watched in ah as “Mr.” and “Mrs” kept the whole thing under control. I was an only child and looked to them for an all too short number of years as my family.
Chuck and I hunted (never found a thing to shot). Sailed in a neighbor’s borrowed sail boat. Fished on the lake and below Lake Milton Dam. For a few springs we rescued other people’s docks floating by during the thaw, hind them and then sold/installed them to non-lake folks for a price.
Needless to say many of my junior high and early high school memories involved Chuck and his family.
We started to follow different paths as did many of his class. Depending on who reads this, my memory is the then Jackson Milton School Superintendent Rayburn called attention to this in the class of 86’s commencement speech. I can’t remember the exact words so I’ll leave that out.
I can’t remember when but t had to due with looking for folks for my class reunion; now decades ago. I started looking for Chuck. The more I tried, the more good memories came back. I left messages on a machine that I thought was one of his relatives. Nothing returned.
I love and hate the internet for just situations like this.
What I read from your message is Chuck left his football, Army and post Army years behind. He return to the Chuck I knew.
Thank you for giving Chuck the life you did and he deserved!
Thank you for giving Chuck the life you did and he deserved!
The summer of 1960 I moved from Youngstown to Lake Milton. Down the street was a family of two older sisters and the younger brother, Chuck. Very quickly I was taken in by the Chepkys as if I was yet another brother.
Over the next few years I danced with the sisters at the Legion and high school. I had a crush on the then younger sister Becky and watched in ah as “Mr.” and “Mrs” kept the whole thing under control. I was an only child and looked to them for an all too short number of years as my family.
Chuck and I hunted (never found a thing to shot). Sailed in a neighbor’s borrowed small sail boat. Fished on the lake and below Lake Milton Dam. For a few springs we rescued other people’s docks floating by during the thaw, hind them and then sold/installed them to non-lake folks for a price.
Needless to say many of my junior high and early high school memories involved Chuck and his family.
We started to follow different paths as many did many in his class. Depending on who reads this, my memory is the then Jackson Milton School Superintendent Rayburn called attention to this in the class of 65’s commencement speech. I can’t remember the exact words, so I’ll leave that out.
I can’t remember when I started looking for him but it had to due with looking for folks for one of 1966 class reunions; now decades ago. The more I tried, the more good memories came back. I left messages on machines that I thought were his relatives’. Nothing returned. I looked on and off for him over the years.
I love and hate the internet for just situations like this.
What I read from your message is Chuck left his football, Army and post Army years behind. He returned to the Chuck I knew.
I envy your time with his smile and his time holding the grandchildren.
Thank you for giving Chuck the life you did and he deserved!