Charles (Charlie) Munsch was born April 10, 1945 in Hays Kansas to Carl and Emma (Reichert) Munsch, Antonio, KS. He was the 11th of 12 children. He passed away peacefully at his home in Russell KS on August 4, 2020.
Charlie grew up on the Munsch family farm located one mile north of Antonino until 1956 when the family moved to Hays, KS. He attended Antonino Grade School until the 6th Grade. In Hays, he finished his elementary school days at Jefferson West. His high school years were spent at St Joseph Military Academy (now TMP-Marion High School) graduating in 1963. In 1965, he was drafted into the U. S. Army and served a two-year term with one year in Viet Nam. He was a proud Vietnam veteran.
In 1967, he moved to Kansas City, KS where he was employed as an auto mechanic for 12 years at Bud Brown Chrylser-Plymoth, Overland Park, KS.
In 1968, he married Norma Jean (Jeanie) Brock at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Cawker City, KS. The couple made their home in Kansas City Kansas for 4 years. In 1972, they moved to Louisburg, KS where they built their own home North and East of Louisburg. Two children were joyfully adopted into the family, Brian Patrick in 1975 and Rebecca Ann in 1977. They remained in Louisburg until 1979 when they moved to Cawker City, Ks. There they bought a Chrysler and Massey Ferguson dealership, which they owned for 3 years.
When the dealership closed, Charlie was employed by Waconda Motors Chevrolet dealership as a mechanic for two years. He then began employment with Wise Construction, Inc until 2001 when he moved to Hays, Ks. In 2001 he was employed by Commercial Builders for two years and one year by Glassman, Inc. In 2004 he became head of maintenance at TMP-Marion high school where he worked until retirement his in 2012. In 2013 he became a resident of Russell, KS. From 2014 to 2016 he was a bus driver for USD 207, Russell. He also for a short time was maintenance man for St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Russell.
Charles’ survivors include his wife of the home, son Brian and wife Maranda of Guthrie OK; daughter Rebecca Haberman and husband Brian of Hutchinson, KS; grandchildren Blake Odle of Hays, KS, Jacob Hayden of Topeka, KS, Isaac Hayden of Lawrence, KS, and Aubrey Hayden of Hutchinson, Ks. Great grandsons Jeffrey Spencerof Simpson, KS and Isaiah Haberman of Hutchinson; sister Rosalita Flax of Ness City KS and many nieces and nephews. Proceeding Charlie in death were his parents; brothers Severin, Eddie, Victor, Leonard, Francis and James, sisters Helen Jarmon, Alice Dechant, Delores Diemert and Eileen Hoff.
Charlie was very talented and his mother-in-law once proclaimed, “He can fix anything”. In his teen years, he worked alongside his father in house building and carpentry in Hays. He never lost his talent for woodworking and building, which was evident with the home he and Jeanie built in 1972 in Louisburg and then a cabinet shop while living there. In Cawker City, he and wife Jeanie completely remodeled their home. He also built grandfather clocks, toys for grandchildren and in last several years began repairing clocks as a hobby. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Over the last few years he and Jeanie enjoyed trips in their RV as well as spending time at area lakes for days at a time.
While in Cawker City Charlie was a baseball coach for little league and K-18 ball teams as well umpire for city leagues. He also served on Cawker City Council from 1994 to 1999 In 1999 he was appointed as mayor and served in that capacity until resigning in 2001 when he moved to Hays. He is a member of the St Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Russell; St. Nicholas of Myra Knights of Columbus, Hays and The American Legion. He was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, Hays, SS Peter and Paul Parish, Cawker City, KS and Knights of Columbus Council 1868, Cawker City and served as Grand Knight 1984-1986 and again 1988-1989 and as Financial Secretary 1996-2001. He also served as a volunteer fireman in Cawker City from 1981 to 2000.
He will be greatly missed.
Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, August 10, 2020 at St. Mary’s Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Cremation will follow the services and a private burial of Ashes will follow at a later date. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Sunday, August 9, 2020 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church with the Vigil being held at 6:30 PM, Sunday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to St. Mary Queen of Angels Maintenance Fund or education fund for great grandchildren. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.