October 28, 1945 – March 11, 2023
Chuck made his final hike and crossed the Rainbow Bridge from his Aspen Valley home in Boise. He made his transition on his own terms in the way that he had hoped— with a view of the beloved mountains and his wife Barbara’s arms wrapped around him.
Quietly, he let go of Earthly cares and soared gently into his forever after.
Chuck was born in Oxnard, California, and grew up in Ventura, California, with his dad Curly, his mother Pauline, and his bro Weldon.
He played sports, fished with the “old farts” off the Ventura Pier and explored the hills surrounding his home.
At age 17, he volunteered for the Navy where he then volunteered to serve on a riverboat in Vietnam.
Chuck was trained as a Fire and Gunnery Control Technician.
While aboard the U.S.S. William M. Wood, Chuck challenged the reigning boxing champion and earned the title Mediterranean Fleet Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
He was a natural athlete honed by his father to be “tough,” a trait he valued and promoted in others.
After an honorable discharge, Chuck went to college using his GI bill and football scholarships. He was very proud to have played football for Fresno State University.
He had known even in high school that his calling was to work with kids, and indeed, he had an amazing gift with young people.
He became a teacher and high school football coach.
He designed and implemented TLC, a program for at-risk youth at Monache High School in Porterville, California.
In the summers he took indigent youth into the Golden Trout Wilderness, and they built and maintained trails.
It was in the wild places that his spirit soared.
And it was in this endeavor that he met his soulmate Barbara, a trail builder in Yosemite, who had been hired as his supervisor. Yeah…right!
Chuck would do things his way, but they fell in love and together they began a new path in their lives living and working from their home in Springville, California.
Hiking, backpacking, llama packing, skiing, home renovating, landscaping and raising their dogs. They did everything together.
When Chuck retired from teaching, he worked on ski patrol at then China Peak Resort.
After two years he suggested they move to Idaho.
Barbara was ready for the adventure, and they built their home in New Meadows from where they discovered new adventures and cultivated many new friends.
Skiing and llama packing formed the foundation, but Chuck quickly learned to raft and kayak the local rivers.
He most enjoyed his time with friends when he wasn’t packed into the backcountry with Barbara.
It was his gift to bring smiles and laughter to everyone he met and to strangers as well, who often became new friends.
He had a heart “as big as a slop bucket.”
He reached out and welcomed all to enjoy his edgy humor and friendship.
His friends and family will miss the joy of life he shared with us.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 33 years, Barbara, his daughter Stephanie Rucker (Dave) and her kids Bailey and Logan. His son Jonathan Thiele (Chasie) and their kids Juliana and Zackery. And his youngest daughter Megan Beltran (Cesar) and their boys Gabriel and Mathew.
Chuck loved his six grandkids and spent as much time as he could with them, encouraging them to be good, love nature and treat others kindly.
During his teaching years, Chuck’s mantra was “Always do your best. Always do what is right. And treat others as you want to be treated.”
Chuck lived his life by these values and inspired countless kids, friends and family to do the same.
He was a mentor for so many!
We are proud to be counted as his friends and grateful he shared his life with us.
May we be so lucky to meet again on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
A Memorial Group Ski will be held on Wednesday, March 29. Meet at the top of Main at 11 a.m.
A Celebration of Life will be announced for this summer.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Idaho Youth Ranch or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
And PLEASE share your favorite stories and pictures of Chuck at www.cremationsociety-idaho.com/tributes.
