Charles Edward Erding

Charles Edward Erding, 74 of Forest City, died Monday, January 16, 2017 his mother’s birthday, after a long fight with cancer at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating.

A gathering of friends and family will be held 1 hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday morning. A lunch and time of fellowship will be held following services.

Private family committal services will be held on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.

Charles was born in rural Allamakee County, Iowa on July 10, 1942. He graduated from Waukon High School and joined the Air Force after graduation. His service to his Country was a great source of pride for him throughout his life and until his last breath.

Charles was married to Marilyn Erding for 19 years. He loved her with his complete heart and soul and she was the Center of his Universe to his last day. My brother and I thank you, Marilyn, from the bottom of our hearts for everything you did for and meant to our dad. You have our undying gratitude, and respect for, your place in his life. We see it as a real privilege to have been able to spend his last few days with him. We are both honored and humbled at your generosity and we thank you.

We share our grief with his living sisters, affectionately and lovingly thought about, as The Aunts. Donna Smith (New York), Dianne Wolfe (Iowa), and Kay Barry (California) we adore each and every one of you and I know he did, too.

Charles worked in many roles throughout his life but he treasured most his time with family, friends, and watching nature unfold. He could usually be found keeping track of his birds, working in his yard, counting the cattle next door, and working with wood in his shop.

He enjoyed travel and was particularly fond of Civil War sites, National Parks, and any place he could sit back and watch people do what they do. He fondly remembered and shared pictures of trips to the Great Wall of China, Austria, and his family’s original home in Erding, Germany.

Charles is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his sisters, Donna Smith, Dianne Wolfe, and Kay Barry; his children, Lisa Wickham (Paul) and Lyle Erding, as well as his grandsons, Nick Peterschmidt (Wallcott, IA) and Tony Wickham (Davenport, IA); stepchildren, Bill (Nancy) Buehler, Susan (Toshi) Tawara; step grandchildren, Katherine Weseloh, Leah and Elijah Buehler, Mark, Caitlin and Alex Tawara. To other family and friends too numerous to mention here, please know that you each had a special place in his heart and made his life better.

Charles is preceded in death by his father, Firmin Erding, mother, Marguerite Erding, and a sister, Dorothy Ann. We have no doubt that his departure by 7:15pm gave him ample time to make last call for Happy Hour with Grandma for her birthday.

On behalf of myself and our family, our thanks to each and every one of you who played a bit part in this man’s life. To our dad, Charles Edward Erding, our undying love and devotion to a life well lived by a man well loved.