Charles Kirschbaum

Charles "Charlie" Kirschbaum, age 80 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully Sunday, November 8, 2009 at his home surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 13 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will take place at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. followed by United Veterans prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Serving as casket bearers will be Adam, Thomas, Joseph, Timothy, and Samuel Kirschbaum, and Benjamin Martin. Cross bearer will be Elise Kirschbaum, scripture bearer will be Katie Kirschbaum, and honorary bearer will be Megan Kirschbaum.

Charlie Kirschbaum was born April 10, 1929 in Defiance, Iowa to John and Frances (Rosman) Kirschbaum. On April 20, 1951 he married Ella "Rose" Carpenter in Mellington, Tennessee. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 until 1969 and during that time his naval assignments spanned the U.S., Japan, and Greece. After retirement from the military the family settled in the suburbs of Minneapolis where their four children spent much of their childhood and schooling. Charlie was employed by the federal government for ten years and then worked as a realtor in the Apple Valley area for ten years. They retired in 1991 and moved to Sauk Centre, where they volunteered for several years at the senior dining site.

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus, Apple Valley American Legion, and the Fleet Reserve Association.

He is survived by four children, their spouses, and 11 grandchildren; Michael Kirschbaum, his wife, Jennifer, and grandsons, Adam, his wife, Krista, and Thomas, of Cary North Carolina; Dr. Mark Kirschbaum, his wife, Mary Jo, and grandchildren, Megan, Joseph, and Timothy of Madison, Wisconsin; Col. Max Kirschbaum, his wife, Julie, and grandchildren, Katie, Sam, and Elise, of Panama City, Florida; Mary Martin, her husband, Dick and grandchildren, Ben, Kara, and Joel, serving as missionaries in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia. Other survivors include sisters and brothers, Leona Gilmore, John Kirschbaum, Jr., MaryAnn Schwenderman, Don Kirschbaum, his wife, Kay, all of Omaha, Nebraska, Robert Kirschbaum and his wife, Carol, of Spirit Lake, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ella "Rose" Kirschbaum on July 20, 2004; and sisters, Ione Allen and Marjorie Welsch.

He is remembered for his boundless wit and sense of humor, his gentle and willing hand when someone was in need, and his great love for fishing and a finely manicured yard and garden.

Memorials may be directed to St. Michael's Hospice, 425 Elm Street North, Sauk Centre, MN 56378.