Charles Joachim
Charles Joachim
April 18, 1923 – October 16, 2011
Oskaloosa, IA, and formerly of Denison, Sigourney, Clarence and Alta Vista, IA
Visitation: will begin at 2 p.m., Tuesday afternoon, October 18, 2011 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 – 6:30 p.m. to greet visitors.
Funeral Service: 1 p.m., Wednesday afternoon, October 19, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church in Alta Vista, Iowa with Reverend Vincent Fricke officiating.
Interment: Union Cemetery in Alta Vista, Iowa
Charles William Joachim was born April 18, 1923, the exact day that the first Yankee Stadium opened, to William and Bertha Momberg Joachim, in their home on a farm outside of Alta Vista, Iowa. Charles was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Alta Vista, IA, where his funeral will also take place, on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 19. Charles died on Oct. 16, 2011, in Oskaloosa, IA.
His stories of growing up on the farm delighted listeners—especially children and grandchildren—tales of riding a horse into town to get groceries and losing them all because the sound of the paper grocery bag spooked the horse, and of teasing his little sister, Lorraine, by substituting salt for sugar in the shaker! Charles was the second oldest of four; his siblings were Orval, Kenneth, and Lorraine. He attended grade school and graduated from high school in Alta Vista and was an outstanding athlete, particularly in basketball and baseball. After high school he began farming in the area. One night at a dance he met Mildred L. Schoenfeldt, and ended up taking her home after the dance. That event involved another very entertaining story, about how Charles came upon Mildred’s parents later in the evening, but didn’t know they were her parents! Charles and Mildred were married on January 18, 1945, in Elma, IA, during a snowstorm! Three years of farming took their toll on Charles’ back; he decided he would go to college! With little support and few role models, he, Millie and their oldest daughter Karyl, who was born in 1948, sold almost everything they owned and drove to Cedar Falls so that he could attend Iowa State Teachers College. Charles worked part-time in drafting for a Waterloo engineering firm, at a local nursery, and painted houses to support the family and finish college in three years. Their daughter Patricia was born in 1953 right before he graduated. Charles’ first job was teaching Industrial Arts in Clarence, IA. He also began a Master’s Degree program at the University of Iowa; he received his Master’s in 1959, and continued on to receive his Specialist Degree in 1964. He became Principal at Clarence, and when the Superintendent died suddenly, became Superintendent. The couple’s third daughter, Laurie, was born in 1963. He served at Clarence until 1966, then Superintendent at Sigourney until 1973, and then Assistant Superintendent in Denison until retirement in 1986. Clearly education was his life’s focus and he found school administration to be both challenging and very rewarding. He was particularly proud of building projects at every school, including a brand new high school and athletic complex in Sigourney, completed in 1969.
Community service, fishing, traveling, and supporting his daughters and two granddaughters, Kate and Jessica, in their every pursuit were also important in his life. He was an active member and officer of the local Lion’s Club in Sigourney and Denison, a member of six different education associations, and a devoted parishioner at Lutheran churches in Stanwood, Hedrick and Denison. He was currently a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA. Charles and Millie set a goal to visit every state in the country, many via their motor home, and reached it! Trips to Hawaii and Alaska, and to Texas and Florida each winter after retirement, were most enjoyable. A highlight for Charles was a trip to Russia with other school administrators to compare educational systems in the early 70’s. Chuck and Millie retired in 1986, moved to Realife in Denison in 1995, and then to Eventide in Denison in 2008. He was President of the Board at Realife for a number of years, continuing to enjoy crunching numbers and overall management. In October 2009 after his beloved wife’s death in August of that year, he moved to Maple Ridge Assisted Living in Oskaloosa to be closer to daughter Pat. The family is grateful for the wonderful staff and residents of Eventide and Maple Ridge for the care and joy they brought to Charles’ life. Charles’ best buddy at Maple Ridge was Les (Red) Snowbarger. Chuck was an avid reader, loved playing cards, and working on jigsaw puzzles, the Jumble and Sudoku. He liked to snack on black licorice, peanuts, miniature Snickers, and root beer. And he especially adored his two granddaughters. He read to them, walked with them, tickled their feet, and told them stories—sometimes some very tall tales! He was so proud of their accomplishments. And before it closed and the new one opened, he celebrated his 80th birthday by attending a Yankee’s game in the old stadium, the one with which he shared a birthday. This was arranged by daughter Laurie, who lives in New York City.
Charles W. Joachim was preceded in death by his wife Mildred; his parents; his brother Orval and Orval’s wife, Millie; also sister-in-law Viola Joachim; other in-laws, and two nephews. He is survived by his three daughters and their families: Karyl, Wayne and Kate Walter of Ft. Myers, FL; Pat and Jack Kitzman of Oskaloosa, IA with daughter Jessica in Syracuse, NY; and Laurie Joachim, New York City.
Memorials may be made in his name and will be designated at a later time.
