Charles Joseph (Chuck) Schwindt
Our Dad, Charles Joseph (Chuck) Schwindt, was welcomed into heaven on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Dad was born, 9th of 13 children, to Frank and Marjorie Schwindt on January 26, 1954. Dad attended grade school in Baker and Plevna and graduated from Laurel High School in 1973. Soon after graduation, Dad enlisted in the United States Army as part of the 1st Infantry/Military Police, was deployed to Germany and was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. On October 13, 1973, Dad married our mother, Teena Shear.
In 2004, Dad married Bridget Hanley, and we gained an amazing step-mother and step-sister. Dad worked for most of his life in the floor covering industry and made many lifelong friends. Dad was an avid “old car” aficionado and seemed to always be buying and fixing something up and then selling and starting over.
Dad spent his last few years living in Ryegate, MT, where he was very involved in the school and his community, helping whenever and wherever he could. Dad didn’t know a stranger. He was always very outgoing and friendly and because of this, had made hundreds if not thousands of friends throughout his short 67 years.
Dad was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Larry, Jim and Doug and two sisters, Lorraine Lester and Linda Johnson.
Surviving are four brothers: Terry (Mary), Leonard (Melinda), Ed and Randy; three sisters: Eleanora Hoffman, Georgia Ragan and Trudy Kindred. Dad’s children, and grandchildren, Caree (Scott) Pekovich, Parker, Addee, Tyson and Tierney; Valerie Schwindt, Veronica, Aden and Erin; Adam Schwindt, Kylah and Nolyn.; Katy (Tyler) Bispo and their son Chandler, our mother Teena Shear-Smyth and step-mother Bridget Schwindt. Dad is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins that all loved him dearly.
Joint services with military honors for Dad and his brother Doug were held on Monday, October 4th. Cremation has been accorded and burial will be at a later date at the Veterans’ Cemetery in Laurel.
There has been a memorial fund set up at Ryeagte Public Schools in Dad’s name. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please mail to Ryegate Public Schools- Chuck Schwindt Memorial- PO Box 129, Ryegate, MT 59074
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
