Obit: Bushnell, Charles Milton (1934 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Benson, Brecht, Bushnell, Hoglund, Johnson, Kurasz, Nelson, Olson, Teeters, Wolf

----Source: Life Tributes (Spencer, WI) 2/06/2017

Bushnell, Charles Milton (2 DEC 1934 - 4 FEB 2017)

Charles Milton Bushnell, 82, of Loyal died Saturday, February 4, 2017 in the Palliative Care Unit at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield following a courageous battle with colon cancer.

A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2017 at our Father’s House Christian Community Church in Chili. The Rev. Ronald Johnson will officiate.

Visitation will be at the church Thursday from 4 p.m. until time of service.

The honor of pallbearers belongs to Peter Brecht, Benjamin Brecht, Timothy Kurasz, Kevin Hoglund, Kevin Teeters and Arnold Wolf. Private committal will be held at a later date.

Charles was born December 2, 1934 in Platteville to the late Milton and Iva (Jones) Bushnell. He graduated from Platteville High School in 1953, having especially fond memories of playing football there. His freshman year of college he attended UW Madison. He completed the remainder of his college studies at UW Platteville, where he graduated with a Physics major and minors in Chemistry and Mathematics. He enjoyed teaching each of these areas but was always most passionate about physics, which he always like to relate and apply to daily life.

He was united in marriage to Joyce M. Benson on April 3, 1961 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison. Charles and Joyce enjoyed many wonderful years together. April 3, 2011 marked their 50th wedding anniversary. Charles taught high school physics, chemistry, and mathematics during his career in the communities of Whitewater, Elgin, IL, New Glarus, Rib Lake, Wausaukee, Auburndale, Necedah, Stevens Point, and Loyal. He also taught Physics for Respiratory Therapists at Mid-State Technical College in Marshfield for a time.

Finally, he and Joyce worked for several years as motel managers, managing Fannie’s Motel near Neillsville and later a motel in Osseo. An avid sportsman, Dad loved to go boating, fishing, and small game hunting. He was skilled at and enjoyed the craft of boat-building, fully constructing his own wooden boats for himself over the years. Dad loved the game of football, year after year faithfully watching NFL and collegiate games and always being a loyal Packers fan. He also enjoyed attending high school sporting events.

Throughout his life Dad appreciated good music, particularly spirited pieces from the renowned classical composers. As a young man, he played coronet, piano, and the church organ. Charles was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather who particularly enjoyed spending time with his family. He liked to mention to people that since the early 1990’s he and Joyce lived at the same residence as their daughter and family. It was gratifying to him watching his two grandchildren grow up and he was very proud of them.

Charles is survived by one daughter, Karyn (Peter) Brecht; and two grandchildren, Benjamin and Valorie Brecht, all of Loyal. He is further survived by a sister, Mary (Russell) Nelson, Eagle River; a sister-in-law, Jean Olson, of Shoreline, Wash; several nieces and a nephew; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joyce, and brother David Bushnell.