Charles "Charlie" Edwards

To Charles Edwards, life was about the relationships he shared with his family and friends above all else. He was a man of great strength and integrity, and was also generous with his time. Charlie was blessed to share nearly 40 years of his life with his true companion with whom he treasured every moment they were able to experience together. Although he was a man who worked hard, there certainly was a place for both fun and drinking in the joy found in each and every day. Charlie enjoyed structure in his life and was a firm believer in being neat and orderly. It was these and many more little traits about this extraordinary man that will be forever remembered by those he leaves behind.

The decade of the twenties were a time of great change for Canada as it was during this time that red and white were approved by proclamation to be Canada's official colors, “The Canadian” became the first Canadian-manufactured automobile, and the Canadian National Railway was born. It was also during this time that Ernest and Helen (Swantz) Edwards were rejoicing in the healthy birth of their son, Charles, on May 31, 1925. Charlie’s parents were originally from Michigan, but moved to Canada with just a dollar to their name in order to farm. Charlie was actually born as a twin although his brother did not survive. Officially born in Elgin, Manitoba, Canada, Charlie moved with his family back to the Lansing area shortly after his birth. He was raised as part of a large family and when he was in the ninth grade, the Edwards family purchased a home in St. Johns. Charlie attended and eventually graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns, although he left school during his junior year to join the Navy.

While he was in the Navy, Charlie became a Seabee and was part of the invasion on D-Day. He was then transferred to the South Pacific as part of the defensive drive against the Japanese from the Philippines. After three years in the Navy, Charlie returned to St. Johns and went back to high school to continue his education. Charlie graduated from high school in 1946.

With his high school diploma finally under his belt, great changes were in store for Charlie over the next few years. He continued his education at Lansing Business University where he majored in accounting. , Charlie then went to work for the Miller, Morris and Pappas Patent Attorney Firm, located in both St. Johns and Lansing. It wasn’t long before his work there yielded him much more than a paycheck since it was there that he met a young gal with whom he would spend many years. Her name was Jennie Kehoe and after dating for a time, they married. After being together for several years, Jennie sadly died.

Brighter days were around the corner for Charlie when made the acquaintance of a woman at the American Legion Hall in St. Johns. A bit later, Charlie found himself quite smitten and finally asked this woman named Shirley to “go with him.” She was more than happy to oblige and from that point forward, Charlie and Shirley were rarely apart for more than the next 30 years. Charlie always said he believed in long engagements and certainly proved that to be true as he and Shirley didn’t officially marry until 2004. Throughout the years, Charlie embraced her children and grandchildren as his own.

Charlie was a man of many interests throughout his life. He liked to bowl, play ping pong, and travel. Charlie was also quite the outdoorsman who loved golfing, fishing, and hunting, particularly in South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. He loved to take the grandchildren up to the cabin near Grayling where he would share with them his love for fishing and hunting, and they were always thrilled when Charlie took them for a ride in the back of the Jeep. Some of his happiest times were also spent when he went hunting and fishing with Shirley. Later in life, Charlie and Shirley loved to drive around looking for wildlife out in the country.

Several of the things Charlie enjoyed doing revolved around his love for spending time with friends and being social. He played both slow pitch and fast pitch softball for many years. Charlie was a lifetime member of VFW Post 4113, was a member of the American Legion for 47 years, and for many years was involved with the 40-8 as well. He loved to play euchre, too, especially with their neighbors at the cabin. Charlie’s retirement years provided him with even more time to spend with family and friends doing the things he loved. By the time he officially retired after 47 years of dedicated service with the accounting firm, Charlie did what must have been thousands of tax returns throughout his career.

In so many ways, Charlie was truly one-of-a-kind, which made him so easy to love. He was a real “jokester” who loved to laugh – and get others going as well. This came pretty naturally to Charlie since he had such a great sense of humor. To Charlie, there was a place for everything and everything in its place. In fact, he had painted silhouettes to mark where each of his tools went, and he also saved nearly every receipt he ever received.

One of the things that people who knew Charles Edwards will remember about him most was his loving heart. He was a dedicated husband who cherished spending time with his wife, and it was easy to see that Charlie adored his five great-grandchildren deeply. Charlie lived his life with strength, integrity, and great character, which all worked together to profoundly impact the lives of those around him in such a special way. He will be dearly missed.

Charles K. Edwards died on January 20, 2010. Charlie’s family includes his wife and companion, Shirley E. Edwards and grandsons, Trent Jakus, Aaron (Jill) Jakus, Ethan (Wendy) Jakus; sisters and brothers-in-law, Peg (Don) Boyd of St. Louis, Martha (David) Grier of South Haven, Gerry (Tom) Wyble, Richard (Marie) Woodhams, Marianna Mills of St. Johns, Helen Santrusek of Elsie; niece and nephews, Jeannie (Doug) Gillilland of Lansing, Elwood (Janet) Lowell of Crystal, Ross (Sharon) Myers of St. Johns; great- grandchildren, Kayle, Cheyenne, and Kole Jakus, Kody and Alexa Jakus of St. Johns; step-children, Michael (Jane) Mygrants, Roger (Robin) Mygrants, Janette (Scott) Neil and Patricia (Gary) Hall. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Wesley, who was killed by a sniper in Germany, Ethalyn (Jimmy) Lowell of Lansing, Virginia (L.G.) Myers of St. Johns, Alydia Ruth, and an infant twin brother whose name was not known; wife, Jeanne Edwards; brother-in-law, Robert (Sally) Reeve; mother and father-in-law, Guy and Frances Reeve; sister-in-law, Dorothy Wood; two step-sons, David and Richard Mygrants; and son-in-law, James Jakus. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 25, 2010, at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., with Pastor Steve Weinberger officiating, burial at Union Home Cemetery. The family will receive friends, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Sparrow Hospice.