Charles Lawrence

Chuck Lawrence, 70, of Wausau, died unexpectedly at Aspirus Wausau Hospital on Saturday, December 23, 2017.  He was born in Wausau on March 22, 1947, to the late Ervin and Mary Ann Lawrence, the eldest of five boys.

After graduation from Wausau Senior High School, Chuck served as an atomic demolition munitions specialist in the 600th Engineering Company of the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, VA from 1966-1968.  Memorable events include serving on riot control in Washington, D.C. during the uprisings following the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.  A proud veteran, Chuck was a member of Viet Nam Veterans of America, Chapter 479.

Chuck was a 1973 graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee School of Architecture and returned to Wausau to join the Wergin Co. as an architect.  He was also employed at Wausau Metals and retired in 2010 after 26 years with Moduline Windows.

He married Bonnie Christian at Grace Lutheran Church in the Town of Maine on December 21, 1979.  Chuck and Bonnie enjoyed summers at the cabin he designed and they built together in the northwoods of Minocqua.  He was a do-it-yourself kind of guy who could use his engineering mentality to design, build, or fix most anything.  He loved to read and was most interested in history and science.  In retirement, Chuck enjoyed spending many peaceful hours at their farm after meeting friends for morning coffee.  His quick wit will be missed by all.

Besides his wife, Chuck is survived by his daughter, Claire (Benoit) Meney; grandsons, Oliver, Nicolas, and Xavier; brothers, Michael (Janice) Lawrence, Steven Lawrence, and Paul Lawrence; sister-in-law, Carol Christian; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Peter.

A funeral service will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2017, at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, with Rev. Zach Holdorf of Trinity on Stewart officiating.  Family and friends may call beginning at 4:00 p.m. until the time of service in the funeral home.  Private burial will take place.

You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Marathon County Humane Society or Trinity on Stewart.