"Ginny & Family, I had the privilege of serving with Chuck duinring WW 2 and there was nobody that I admired more. He was a great and brave soldier and one that everyone in our unit looked up to. Since that time more than 65 years ago, he remains a very positive influence on my life. Rollin Vickers Hq Co 1st Bn, 345th Inf. Regiment 87th Infantry Division"
In loving memory of
CHARLES L. (CHUCK) FOREMAN
September 10, 1925 - December 11, 2009
Charles L. "Chuck" Foreman, 84, of 1515 Lynn Ave., Marquette, died Friday evening December 11, 2009 at his residence.
He was born in Lansing, Michigan on September 10, 1925 to Ernest L. and Faye Miller Foreman. He graduated from Rockford, Michigan High School in 1943 and entered the United States Army.
Chuck went overseas with the 87th Infantry Division and fought in France prior to the Battle of the Bulge. The 87th fought in the Ardennes, Rhineland (capturing Koblenz) and Central Europe, ending the war at the border of Czechoslovakia and assisting in the liberation of Buchenwald Prison Camp.
Mr. Foreman received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star during World War II. He shared his experiences of that time with many local history students and compiled a book of this unit's personal wartime experiences: First Battalion, 345th, 87th Division.
Following military service Chuck graduated from Michigan State University and joined the Boy Scouts of America as a District Scout Executive. He came to Marquette in 1965 to serve as Council Executive of the Hiawathaland Council until 1968. During this time Camp Hiawatha was built. He recently attended the Century of Values Tour, which is commemorating the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouting in America. He always credited his boyhood scouting experiences with helping him survive the winter of 1944-45.
Chuck retired from Scouting after 20 years, leaving the Muskegon Council to return to the U.P. where he served as director of the Marquette Senior Center. His volunteer efforts included the organization of the Marquette County United Way (1973-74), the Marquette Maritime Museum (1980's) and the Laughing Whitefish Audubon Society, serving as president or chairperson of the last two organizations.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia Foreman; five daughters, Wendy (John) Chain of Greensville, TN, Kay (Dennis) Vossen of Placerville, CA, Debra (Gordon) Garrett of Lexington, KY, Bonnie (Barton) Jeffries of Marquette and Sarah (Craig) Kramer of Monument, CO; two sons, Bruce (Lilian) Galbraith of San Jose, CA and Jeffrey (Tammy) Foreman of Wyoming, MI; also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held next summer in the chapel of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.
Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider the Hiawathaland Council Boy Scouts of America, 2210 U.S. 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855 or the Bay Cliff Health Camp, 310 W. Washington St, Marquette, MI 49855.
The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements where notes of remembrance may be left at www.canalefuneral.com
Tributes
"Our condolences to the family. We will remember Chuck as a great conversationalist and an intelligent man. Rest in peace. Jim and Judy Provost"
"It is always a surprise/shock to read of a classmate's death (class of 1943).One of the vivid memories is of Chuck on skis at the Rockford sledding "mt" probably in the late '30s. Chuck had the new clamp on ski bindings when the rest of us had toe-loops. The Obituary revealed his WW 2 experiences of which I had never heard. . I'm sorry we could not have met more often; the last time being at Bob Burch's house in Rockford following a RHS reunion."
"We send our deepest sympathies to your family. The memories and legacy of Chuck are in keeping with the finest ideals of a Great American. Love, Sunny and Elizabeth"
"Aunt Ginny, We're so sorry to hear about Chuck. It was truly a blessing to have known such a wonderful man. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort. Love to all~The Lacik Family: Tom, Kim, Matt, Nicky, Tyler, Ashley and Brooke."
"Grandpa was such a wonderful storyteller, teacher, and listener. He told such wonderful stories, that were both soulful and interesting. He told me that I should always follow my dreams and to always keep my head above the water. And even when times were tough that I should "swim for the better days despite the lack of the sun". He told me never to let myself sink. Even if the tides shift, I have to remain true to myself. I will always remember his words of wisdom. He will always have a special place in my heart. Grandpa had so much love and a genuine personality. He did so much good for camp and our family. I will always cherish the times I got to spend with him."
"Dear Ginny; What fond memories Jack and I have of you and Chuck, and our times we shared together as friends. A wonderful friend, a wonderful husband, a wonderful individual. God bless us all."
"Dear Ginny I was so sorry to hear of Chuck's passing. He was always one of my favorite patient's. He was such a kind, caring person. He will be sadly missed by myself and everyone else in the office that knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this sad time. My God Bless you always. Barb Campbell Chuck's nurse at Cardiology"
"May god welcome chuck into his kingdom of everlasting life and peace. Scott and Joan Erickson"
"Dear Ginny and children; I am so sorry to hear of Chuck's passing. What a guy, and always with a twinkle in his eye. I am glad that he was your soul-mate and that you had many good years together, but I know the time will be empty now. I look forward to seeing you to give you hugs. with love from Joan Duncan"
"Chuck was one of the finest people Mona and I have ever known. Some of the best hours of our lives were spent with him and Virginia. His heroically won Silver and Bronze battle stars suggest the very best of our American military --- total dedication to duty without a trace of ego, hatred or anything but the most humane and selfless patriotism. We will miss him the rest of our lives"
"My fondest and earliest memories are summers at Camp. Grandpa taught me how to fish, to sail, to play cribbage. As our family grew, he built out: Sauna, Red Camp, Boat House, and even a new pooper. And the family came, and played, and made important connections and created family traditions: shows, plays, singing, beach fires, hunting and fishing, rock houndin' and, of course, pie-eating. We broke stuff; he fixed it, and I learned. Later, he embarked on his final journey, to connect with others who were bound by the experience of war, to try to make sense of it all, to laugh and cry. And during this time he managed to stay connected to dozens of family members, with notes and cards, and a generosity above all; selfless, loving, his life made me a better human being. Goodbye for now, Grandpa Chuck. Your spirit lives in me and in nature, and will forever be a part of me. But now I weep, wishing only for a little more time with you at Gull Rise Camp."
"When I was younger, me, my brother and sister, my mom, and my dad would drive up to Marquette to visit grandpa almost every summer, he built a little playhouse for us when we were little and it was surrounded by blueberries, so we decided to call it the Blueberry House. I miss my grandpa so much and I will never forget him and the things he did for his country and family."
"Ever since I can remember, my grandpa Foreman's house has always been the idea of someone who lived life with the simple things. No running water or electricity. Just us and nature. I felt every time I went up there that I became a little more human. I miss the fishing and stories that we used to share with my father and I. But most of all, I miss the blueberry pancakes we used to make from scratch every morning we came up there. I wish I could have come sooner to share my new family with him. You will be missed. We love you."
"Ginny & Family So sorry to hear of your loss. Chuck was a good man and I am glad I had the privelege of knowing him."
"Dear Ginny Sorry to hear about Chuck...please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, Roger Bean"
"Ginny and Family, My thoughts and prayers are with you. I sure am going to miss seeing him around the Maritime Museum and McClintock functions. He always made me smile."
"Ginny & Family, Please accept my personal condolences and those of all the Scouting family. He leaves a great legacy of service to his fellow man."
"Ginny & family, We have two particularly fond memories of Chuck. The first is the day we built the bridge on Laughing Whitefish River with the Nature Conservancy, and Chuck did about four times as much heavy lifting as the younger folks, and secondly, last summer at the BSA Century of Values Tour when Chuck and Curley Verville saw each other for the first time in decades and fondly embraced - each with his cane sticking straight out. What a wonderful life! Please accept our condolences."
"Virginia, Charles will be sadly missed by all of us in the office. He always put a smile on our face. He was such a kind gentle soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The office staff of Respiratory Medicine."
"Chuck and I go way back to camp school in 1956. I worked for him as a Red Buck District Executive in 1967 to help out. He was a brother to me. My sympathies to the family."
"Dear Ginny and Family, Ginny and Chuck were always so gracious when I stopped by with my latest dilemma or news. I will surely miss Chuck when I bring Ginny the latest Monarch information this summer. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sue Payant"
"Dear Ginny, Sad to know of your loss now at Holiday time. Brief times I saw Chuck with you showed the great gentleman you had. Hope to see you in summertime in Marquette.Marilynn"
"Dear Ginny and Family, Chuck was one of the nicest men we ever knew. We feel honored to have known him. Let us know how we can help in this very difficut time."