Charles Earl Schweger

Charles Earl Schweger was born on August 1, 1941, in Wausau, Wisconsin. Though he was the first child in his family to be born in a hospital, he passed away in the comfort of his own home on September 16, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta.

From the moment he could walk, Charles was fascinated by the natural world. He loved being outdoors, reading science books, and playing with a large group of neighbourhood children, including his notoriously mischievous imaginary friend, Kern. He collected rocks and fossils, received a chemistry kit that sparked his curiosity, and learned the basics of photography. And, like nearly everyone in his part of Wisconsin, was seldom seen on a football Sunday without his Green Bay Packers cheese hat.

Charles earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He then worked in a geochronology laboratory at the University of Arizona, where he began his doctoral studies. Following his dear friend John Matthews from Arizona to Edmonton, Charles completed his PhD in geology at the University of Alberta. Upon earning his degree, he was hired by the Department of Anthropology, where he would spend a lifetime building a distinguished and deeply fulfilling career that he, unsurprisingly to all who knew him, continued to contribute to even in his very last days!

Charles loved being a professor. He thrived in an academic environment filled with ideas, questions, and endless opportunities to learn and collaborate. He loved teaching, research, and, above all, the people he met along the way. He possessed a rare gift for communicating with learners of any age or level of experience. To him, leading a Grade Three classroom full of curious children learning about their favourite rocks was every bit as worthy of his time and enthusiasm as a graduate seminar. He never forgot what it felt like to be an eight-year-old standing in awe of the natural world.

Anyone lucky enough to find a place at Charles’s welcoming table knew that cooking was the love language of the Schweger family. Charles and his brother John learned to cook at a young age while their parents were busy caring for their younger brother, Paul. Wherever he travelled, Charles paid close attention to local cuisine and eagerly learned how to recreate his favourite dishes. He was always searching for the most authentic source of ingredients, whether it was a Hungarian deli selling pork cracklings, a tiny Chinatown corner store known for its sticky rice cakes and BBQ duck, or a specialist butcher selling rare cuts.

Then there was music. Charles's tastes were wonderfully eclectic, ranging from the Art Ensemble of Chicago to Glenn Gould, Lyle Lovett to Sheila Chandra, and Laurie Anderson to Pete Seeger. He listened with remarkable attention, hearing each instrument, recognizing individual musicians, and comparing different recordings of the same piece. In fact, no one who knew him could even count how many times Charles had listened to Wagner’s Das Rheingold.

Throughout all of this, family remained at the centre of Charles's life. Though later separated by a friendly divorce, he married Barbara in Wisconsin in 1965, and together they embarked on countless adventures in pursuit of their shared research interests. Summers spent living in a tent in northern Alaska and Yukon became another chance for Charles, Barbara, and their young daughters, Culley and Maija to explore and discover and learn.

Charles's intellectual horizons broadened further following his first trip to Europe for a Wenner-Gren conference on Beringia. The experience sparked a profound interest in Northern Europe, Greenland, and Iceland. As was his way, Charles immersed himself completely in everything connected to his new passion. He studied Norwegian, perfected his recipe for salted lamb, sought out family in Denmark, and explored the traditional music of the region. His family accompanied him on many of these adventures, sharing in both the discoveries and the friendships that emerged from them.

As his family grew, Charles embraced another cherished role: grandparent. His five grandchildren fondly remember the rock collections he expanded each year, his lessons about plants and insects, his introductions to music and art, and the countless books he read aloud. Through these moments, he passed on his curiosity, generosity, and delight in the world around him.

Charles was a true friend to many people. He maintained deep friendships from elementary school, undergraduate and graduate school, as well as through the many communities he joined throughout his life: colleagues, local and global Buddhist Sanghas, neighbours, fellow music lovers, and friends from the Jazz Society, among many others. Charles cared deeply about his friends, former students, colleagues, and their families. He was, in every way, a shepherd and gatherer. He was famously terrible with names and often got them wrong, but the affection and concern for everyone he encountered was genuine. As he grew older, one of life's greatest sorrows was watching many of his closest friends pass away. Yet he remained grateful for each friendship, sharing their stories and memories with laughter and love. He believed that every person had something unique to contribute, and he approached friendships with curiosity, generosity, an open heart, and encouraged all he met to “walk in beauty”.

Charles is remembered with love by his family: former wife Barbara; daughters Culley Schweger Bell (Steven Bell) and Maija (Neeraj) Prakash, grandchildren Indra Prakash (Bronte Jones), Salix Bell (Jordan Ast), Linnea Bell, Violet Bell (Reid Woodman), and Nayan Prakash (Marie Nguyen); and great-grandchildren Florence and August Jones. He is also survived by his brother, Paul Schweger, and cousins Jerilyn (Jim) Forde and Mary (Norm) Keller. He was predeceased by his parents, Earl and Carolyn Schweger; his brother, John Schweger; and his great-granddaughter, Freya.

Charles will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives he touched. Relationships were at the heart of who he was. In the days following his passing, as family and friends shared memories and condolences, a common theme emerged. Charles possessed a remarkable ability to bring people together across disciplines, generations, cultures, and interests. He delighted in making connections, introducing people to one another, and finding common ground in unexpected places. He believed that every person had something to learn and, more importantly, something to teach. Through his scholarship, his friendships, his family, and his boundless curiosity, Charles leaves behind a legacy of connection, kindness, and lifelong learning.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Nature Conservancy of Canada and/or the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta. Put it in Charles’s name; he would love that.

Memorial Service: 11:00 am, December 19, 2026 at The University Club, 11435 Sask. Dr., Edmonton, Alberta. Please RSVP to [email protected] by December 8 /2026. Link will be provided for virtual attendance.