Charles Wilz

Charles "Chuck" Francis Wilz, 75, Bismarck died at his home on April 8, 2008. Services will be held at 9:30 am Friday, April 11 at the Church of Corpus Christi with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans' Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 9:00 pm Thursday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck where a rosary/vigil service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church. Chuck was born on April 18, 1932 in Neenah, Wisconsin the son Frank and Elizabeth Meier Wilz. As a young boy his family moved from the family farm in Menasha, WI to Dickinson, ND where he attended St. Joseph's Grade School and Dickinson High School. As a teen he was a member of the South Side Gang in which he took great pride. Chuck joined the North Dakota National Guard in 1949 and in 1951 was called to active duty as a Corporal. He spent most of 1951 training at Camp Rucker, Alabama and was sent overseas in August as a Sergeant. He was assigned to the 2nd Division and took part in the Battle of Heart Break Ridge and Bloody Ridge. He was later promoted to Sergeant First Class and then to First Sergeant of G Company. Chuck was the youngest Master Sergeant in the Far East Command which took him to combat on Old Balou and Pork Chop Hill. After returning home from Korea Chuck attended Dickinson State University and graduated in 1956. He participated in football and track and was captain of the football team for 2 years. In college he met the love of his life, Marilyn Born. They were married in June of 1956, and spent their first years teaching in Dufur, Oregon. Chuck received his Masters Degree in 1960 from UND and then accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools in Richardton, ND. The Richardton Rebels and the school were a great source of pride and accomplishment for him. Many students and patrons became his life long friends. He retired as the Superintendent in 1977 and then took over the Born family meat packing business until 1983. Chuck became a trainer for the ND Division of Emergency Management and then spent a year as Superintendent of St. Mary's High School in Bismarck. In 1989 he became the Emergency Manager and 911 Coordinator for Bismarck and Burleigh County retiring in 1997. Throughout his years of work in Richardton and Bismarck he remained in the National Guard. After nearly 40 years in service he retired as a Full Colonel 1988. During his career, Chuck received many awards and citations. He was most proud of the Combat Infantry Badge and Valley Forge Cross which he received for saving a drowning man on Lake Tschida. Chuck had six children, Greg Sharon Wilz, Gary Pam Wilz, Guy Sallie Wilz, Gigi Wilz, Grant Angie Wilz, Gwen Tim Beckler. Greg and Sharon have two sons, Justin and Michael, Gary and Pam have two daughters, Sarah and Mariah, Guy and Sallie have three children, MacKenzie, Hollie and Brady, Grant and Angie also have three children, Jordan, Cole and Lindsey, Gwen and Tim have four children, Alex, Sean, Noah and Madison. He was a loving father and grandfather and very proud of his family. He loved spending time with them at the lake, boating, fishing, golfing, working on their many projects, and reading to his little grand children. Chuck was member of Corpus Christi Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, 40 et 8, the Richardton Volunteer Fire Department, Lions Club, Elks Lodge, VFW, and the Retirees' Association of the National Guard. Chuck is survived by his wife, Marilyn; all of his children and grandchildren; his two brothers, Pat of Long Beach, MS, and Richard of Louisa, VA; his sister, Bernadette Clark of Grants, NM and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Memorials are preferred to the Veterans' Cemetery or American Cancer Society.

Charles Wilz

April 18, 1932 - April 8, 2008