Charles G. "Chuck" Preimesberger

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Charles G. "Chuck" Preimesberger, 61, died Saturday, November 28, 2009 at his home in Glendive following a short battle with cancer. A Life Tribute Service with military honors will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Glendive with Celebrant Sandy Silha officiating. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with the arrangements. Chuck was born on July 18, 1948 in Little Falls, Minnesota the son of X. Fred and Julia (McCullough) Preimesberger. Chuck moved with his family to Montana in 1951, they moved to Fallon, Montana in 1957 where Chuck received his early education. In 1960, the family moved to Glendive where Chuck graduated from Dawson County High School with the class of 1966. Following his graduation from high school, Chuck enlisted in the United States Navy on June 17, 1966. He served as a Hospital Corpsman in Guam until his honorable discharge on June 25, 1969. He returned to Glendive where he married Jacqueline Walsh on August 15, 1970 in Billings, Montana. Chuck and Jackie have made their home in Glendive since that time. Chuck had been employed with Ranch and Farm Wholesale Supply since the time that he was a high school student and at the time of his death was an Assistant Manager with 45 years of experience. Chuck had been very active in the Glendive Jaycees, was a member of the Glendive Moose Lodge since 1969 and had served as Governor of the Lodge in 1979. He was a member of the American Legion and the Badlands Drifters Car Club. He loved bowling and was an avid NASCAR and NHRA drag racing fan. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ed. Survivors include his wife Jackie of Glendive; two daughters, Cherisa Ryan and her husband Jason and daughter, Chelsea Preimesberger all of Glendive; his sister, Sharlene Scarselli and her husband Gene and his brother, Bill Preimesberger and his wife Mary, of California; his sister, Karen Taylor and his sister, Arlyse DeLoyola and her husband Ted of Texas; his sister, Tracy Hart and her husband Jim of California; four grandchildren, Justin, Kylie, Dominick and Julia and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com Charle G. “Chuck” Preimesberger Life Tribute Service December 3, 2009 Welcome: Master of Ceremonies Opening Prayer: Father Ponessa Eulogy: Celebrant Chuck Preimesberger. A friend, Alfred Kron called him a “hero”. At first glance, Chuck seems an unlikely hero. But think about it. How many of us over the years walked into Ranch and Farm and said, “Hey, is Chuck here today?” “I’m working on a project, Chuck. Where would I find this?” Or, “I’m working on a project, Chuck, what will I need?” How many of you that worked with Chuck would respond to a customer’s question with the reply, “Let me find Chuck.” For family, for friends, for customers, for co-workers, Chuck Preimesberger was a go-to guy. You could depend on Chuck to help you out, to provide answers to your questions or get answers for you. He would work with you, help solve problems, get things done, and he generously shared his time, his knowledge and his sense of humor. Chuck’s wife Jackie tells that there were no strangers in Chuck’s life, only friends waiting to be met. Chuck could talk to anyone. He spent his life being helpful to everyone. It’s been said, “The entire sum of existence is the magic of being needed by just one person.” (Vi Putnam) Chuck had a great deal of magic in his life, because every day he was needed by many. Is that what makes a hero? Chuck was a redheaded, freckled faced youth, the third oldest of seven children. His mother, Julia, was a schoolteacher, and his father, Fred worked construction. One story that Chuck’s brother Bill tells is about getting their summer haircuts from their father. Fred would get out the clippers and give his boys crewcuts for the hot months of summer. After Bill had gotten his buzz, it was time for Chuck to get his thick mop of red hair cut off. But the clippers kept getting clogged up, so in frustration, Chuck’s dad went out and brought in the grass clippers. He used the grass clippers and a comb to thin out Chuck’s hair, so he could finish the summer crew cut with the hair clippers. Chuck was to become the hub of the family. He was the one to stay here in Glendive; all his brothers and sisters eventually left. The only time Chuck was away for any length of time was when he enlisted in the United States Navy just out of high school. During his time in the Navy, Chuck would send his paychecks home to his parents. His father’s construction work was seasonal and there would be months in the winter that he would be unemployed. For spending money, Chuck would play pool or arm wrestle with the other enlisted men for cash. Chuck wasn’t very big, but he was tough. When Chuck returned from the Navy, a mutual friend, Mary Kutzler, was instrumental or “to blame”, as Jackie laughingly puts it, for getting Chuck and Jackie together. They married in 1970, and over the course of 39 years, Chuck and Jackie raised two daughters, Cheresa and Chelsea, and grandparented four grandchildren, Justin, Kylie, Dominick, and Julie. Many memories have been made over the years. Chuck and Jackie were close friends with Fred and Mary Kutzler. Many week-ends were spent together grilling steaks, playing cards and with Chuck entertaining them with his guitar or telling jokes. Chuck loved to tell jokes, and Mary and Jackie often accused him of not really working at Ranch & Farm but of just gathering jokes to tell. Something else the couples shared was going on motorcycle trips. Motorcycles trips included loading up the camping gear and camping along the way. Even Cheresa went on a motorcycle trip with Chuck. He took her to Oregon. The only problem was Chuck was the “marathon man.” When Chuck traveled, he drove until you dropped. He’d stop for gas and if you had to use the restroom, you better get it done at the gas station, because rest areas were only scenic things you looked at as you drove by. When Chuck was home, you were apt to find him in the garage. The garage was Chuck’s space. He kept a stash of Rollos and cashews out there that even the grandkids knew about. The garage has two fully stocked fridges, two phones, and two televisions. Chuck liked to watch Nascar and drag races and sports. He often had both TV’s on at the same time, one might have racing, and one might have on baseball or football. Labeled boot boxes lined the top of the garage, with everything in them from wires to nuts to bolts; there is even one labeled “Jackie’s BS”. Chuck’s son-in-law, Jason Ryan, started bringing over challenging things that needed fixing, trying to stump Chuck. He never was able to get one past Chuck; Chuck had the answer for them all. Chuck loved to tinker. He worked on many vehicles and at one time he would sharpen chain saws for people. His family talks of how he “Chuckized” things. Chuck didn’t like to spend money when he could build it or fix it. As good as Chuck was about helping others, he never asked for help for himself. If Cheresa or Chelsea, and later the grandkids hung around, they got to help with whatever was going on, but Chuck never asked them to help. He did enjoy the presence of others around and enjoyed just talking to people. And his garage was a favorite place for him to do this. One of his favorite projects to work on was his vehicles. His pride and joy was a red ’57 Chevy hardtop that he and Jackie owned. Jackie often joked that the reason Chuck married her was because she had that car. Chuck would tell his friends that he had four girls in his life, Jackie, Cheresa, Chelsea, and the red ’57. His other favorite project was the “Plantation.” The plantation came about when Chuck bought a lot with a garage on it that he figured they could use for some of their vehicles. But the garage was the only thing on that lot. It wasn’t long before Chuck had the ground tilled up, and a very large vegetable garden put in. Evenings in the summer, he would go down to the “Plantation” to pull a few weeds and water. Chuck loved to host and entertain his friends. It took Chuck several years, but he added a large deck to the house just so he could do this. He loved to get both grills going with steaks, serve beverages, get out the guitar, play, sing and dance. And one favorite event was Chuck’s 60th birthday, which he hosted himself and did all these things. He and everyone had a great time. Chuck taught both his daughters to drive, using a clutch. Cheresa has fond memories of cruising and driving the backroads with her dad, and not always with enough gas. Chelsea’s best memories of times with her father were when they would go to cut firewood. Chuck and his friend, Royce Harrison, heated their homes and garages with wood heat. Many trips for firewood were required and often Chelsea would ride along. They would visit, drink Coke, and cut and load wood, making a day of it. For Chuck there were no half loads, you always went home with a full load. Royce tells of getting a large trailer to haul his tractor. Chuck wanted to Chuckize it by putting plywood on the sides so they could haul large loads of wood. They took this large trailer down to the river and found a spot that had wood all over the place. Chuck kept throwing more and more wood on the trailer loading it to the max. But they had forgotten about the hill they had to climb to get out. Royce ended up calling for help to pull them up the hill. Chuck was a practical and down-to-earth kind of guy. Jackie says he wasn’t particularly romantic but he did surprise her one Valentine’s Day. They had a standing joke about how thin Chuck was and how Jackie carried a few extra pounds for him, so she never got chocolates for Valentine’s Day. But one holiday, there it was; a huge, heart-shaped box of chocolates. The lid was not on straight and Jackie thought the chocolates had gotten messed up. When she opened the box, another small box sat on top. Enclosed in the small box was a diamond ring. Jackie was so taken aback, she never did ask him where he had gotten that romantic idea. But she sure loved it. Jason Ryan knew Chuck before he and Cheresa dated and were married. The more he got to know Chuck, the more his respect and admiration grew. He realized how intelligent Chuck was and how deep the wealth of know-how was that Chuck possessed. And Chuck was fun to talk to and do things with. Both enjoyed cars and racing. Both liked to entertain others. On a trip to the Pike’s Peak races, Jason got the opportunity to entertain Chuck doing karaoke and experience Chuck going from expecting to be embarrassed to a huge smile of pleasure at what Jason accomplished. As a grandparent, Chuck had a definite soft spot. He would make smaller versions of thing, guitars, brooms, and lawnmowers for his grandkids to use right along with him. He loved having them around. Chelsea feels that one of the traits she inherited from Chuck was to just barrel into things and get them done. Cheresa has his knack for numbers. Chuck made many memories with his family, and they loved him for his patience, his projects, his jokes, his always being there for them. When Chuck was in his early twenties, his father died, and Chuck stepped up to help take care of his mother and his young sisters. Chuck’s “baby sister, Tracy,” as he always introduced her, vividly remembers Chuck telling her at their father’s funeral that he would always take care of her. Tracy was about nine years old at the time. Even though their mother moved to Billings about a year later, the girls, Arlyse and Tracy, would come spend summers with Chuck and Jackie. Tracy has wonderful memories of fishing on the Yellowstone with Chuck and his family. But her most important time with her brother was on her wedding day. Tracy had her wedding in Chuck and Jackie’s backyard, and Chuck gave her away. Arlyse also has a special memory of Chuck when she married. Arlyse was married in Oregon and Chuck had told her not to expect he and the family to be able to come because of the distance. Much to her surprise and pleasure, the day before the wedding, she heard a rumbling, and into the yard rode Chuck and his friend, Fred Kutzler, on their motorcycles. Chuck was sporting an afro hairstyle and on the back of the bike was a blue velvet suit that Chuck wore for her special day. He was quite a picture. Chuck’s presence in their lives was very important. He was, as Tracy puts it, their rock. One important thing that Chuck began in those early years that became a constant all his life was that he began to play the guitar. Self taught, he played and sang for and with family and friends many, many times, entertaining and having fun and making memories for all. He loved Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard. Friends remember getting together, singing and playing Peter, Paul & Mary, and a particular favorite, the song “Hot Rod Lincoln”. Chuck had a book of Johnny Cash songs that he would play constantly and he loved his sister, Arlyse to sing with him. A special memory that Arlyse has is when their mother, Julia, died. Julia lived in western Montana at the time, and as they spent those last days with their mother, Arlyse, Chuck, and a friend spent the last two evenings sittings around a fire, with Chuck playing the guitar and all of them singing favorite songs. Another important part of Chuck’s life began in his high school years. He began working at the Ranch and Farm store. After his return from the Navy, Chuck went back to the store and continued to work there for the remainder of his life, over 45 years all told. Chuck was the store computer before there were computers. He was very good with numbers and had peoples’ account numbers memorized. He knew the store’s inventory and where everything was located. Over the years, he walked a million miles up and down the aisles. A favorite trick of Chuck’s was to come up behind the female employees and growl or scare them. He looked forward each day to flipping coins with Boyd to see who would buy pop, with the loser always having some choice words for everyone else. Chuck epitomized customer service. Customers and the other employees could always depend on Chuck to take care of the needs, answer the questions, find things. Friends, such as Alfred Kron, would come in and try to test his knowledge, but never succeeded in making Chuck say, I don’t know. The store hours may have been posted on the front door, but if you knew Chuck, the store was open 24/7. There were countless calls during supper, evenings and week-ends when Chuck would make a run to the store for someone’s emergency. Harold Simard had these words to say about Chuck; “Chuck was more than an employee, he was a friend, a confidant, and above all, dedicated to the business. If I did something he questioned, he let me know about it. If I needed to spell something, I didn’t need a dictionary, I just asked Chuck!!! Judy and I could leave on vacation or for meetings and always knew things would be taken care of while we were away.” Chuck was as much a part of Ranch & Farm as anyone could be. And just as Chuck’s dedication and loyalty, his knowledge, his dependability and trustworthiness, and his humor were a part of his family and work life, they were also what made up the substance of his friendships. Chuck was a good friend and fun to be with and talk to. He spent many hours in the garages of his friends, helping them or talking cars, Chuck was a Chevy man. He rode motorcycle with them, went to races and tractor pulls with them, Chuck loved the sounds and smells of the track. He barbequed and picnicked with them and their families, and if they needed a part or broke down anywhere, he would come and help take care of the problem. Chuck bowled every Tuesday night for 30 years on the Ranch & Farm bowling team with Harold, Terry Kubesh and others. He was the team captain and a bowler who loved to best even his teammates. The team bowled many tournaments, and in years past, a favorite was the one in Miles City, always followed by an all you could eat buffet at the Crossroads Inn. Harold also recalled taking Chuck deer hunting. Chuck hadn’t hunted as a kid, so his first experience was with Bob Simard and Harold. They were walking, and as they came over a hill, 15 big bucks jumped up and took off. When the dust cleared, there was a deer laying on the ground. Harold and Bob asked Chuck which buck he was shooting at. Chuck replied that he had shot at the one with the biggest tail! There were many good times after that, with wild rides in Harold’s Scout, accompanied by Chuck’s girls and Harold’s family. A special time of friendship between brothers occurred when Bill came home on leave from the Navy. Chuck wanted to go to a Jaycee gathering in Winnepeg, Canada, but no other Jaycees were going. So Bill agreed to go even though he was not a Jaycee. Off they went to Canada, and were having a grand time. One event of the get-together was a canoe race. Chuck thought the United States should be represented, so he signed up he and Bill to be the only Americans in the race. Neither had any canoe experience. The race began and they were doing alright. Chuck was sitting at the back of the canoe. As they were going downstream, he figured out that when another canoe came up behind them, he could push off them with his paddle and send the other canoe backwards. This worked fine until it came time to turn around and paddle upstream. Something happened and with help from the other canoes, Bill and Chuck ended up in the river. They manage to get the canoe upright and back into the race. The Americans finished dead last, but they did finish. It was quite a ride. For Bill, he enjoyed having a brother as a friend. For several of Chuck’s friends, Chuck was like a brother. Chuck was a good man, always there for those around him. Chuck had a quiet watchfulness as he observed people and their needs. And then he would try to take care of those needs. Was he a hero? Ask the family and friends who loved him. Ask the many customers he “saved the day” for with his help. Let us be grateful for having had Chuck touch our lives. As his sister Tracy put it, Chuck was one heck of a guy!” He will be greatly missed by all. Let us now pause for a few minutes and remember Chuck as we watch a video tribute of photos and music selected by Chuck’s family. Video Tribute Reading: Closing: When someone dies, there is a hole left in our hearts. Chuck has left a large hole in the hearts of many. Chuck was a strong presence in our lives. He will remain a strong presence in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. As you grieve for Chuck, never assume a friend wants to mourn alone. The family will need you in the coming weeks and months. We have told a few stories of Chuck today, but there are many stories left to be told. When something reminds you of Chuck, let his family know. Send them a note or an e-mail, call or stop in and visit. Let them know that you too remember Chuck and that he had an impact on your life, and you will always remember him. We are into the holiday season, and this first Christmas without Chuck will be a difficult one. Remember Chuck’s family during this time, and throughout the other first holidays, the first birthdays, the first anniversaries, for at these times, Chuck’s absence will be felt with a fresh sense of loss. Be very present during these times and honor the memory of this good man. Jackie, Cheresa and Ryan, Chelsea and all of Chuck’s family, as your friends and community, we grieve with you and we grieve for you. Chuck will be alive as long as he is remembered, and who could ever forget him? The stories his life created will keep his memory and his presence alive long into future generations. Chuck Preimesberger was a proud veteran of the United States Navy. He served as a Hospital Corpsman in Guam. This is where many of the wounded from the war in Viet Nam were sent to receive medical treatment. Chuck didn’t talk much about his time in the Navy, but he did claim that he could put an IV in a patient on a rolling bus, something the nurses had trouble doing when ambulancing the wounded over the rough roads in Guam. As we are ushered from the church, the Glendive Honor Guard will provide military honors for Chuck’s service to these United States. Let us conclude Chuck’s life tribute service today with a closing prayer from Father Ponessa. We wish Chuck well on his journey, an we thank him for his touch on our lives. Song: “Amazing Grace” Military Honor: Glendive Honor Guard

Charles G. "Chuck" Preimesberger

July 18, 1948 - December 3, 2009

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Charles G. "Chuck" Preimesberger

July 18, 1948 - December 3, 2009

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support