Charles I Piffer

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen’s Church, 1855 Blake Ave., Glenwood Springs.

Mr. Piffer is survived by his wife, Glenda L. Piffer; three sons, Duane Piffer of Redstone, Richard Piffer of Carbondale and Daniel McDonald of New Castle; two daughters, Barbara Pence of Parachute and Cindy Stewart of Denver; 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Charles I. Piffer

December 1, 1921 - December 22, 2013

Chuck Piffer passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2013 at the Community Living Center at the VA Hospital in Grand Junction with his family by his side.

He was born in New Castle, CO to John and Maria Piffer and attended school in New Castle. Chuck worked in an aircraft factory in California and enlisted in the Marines in September, 1942. He completed his Basic Military Training, assigned to Platoon 732 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA and artillery training at the Marine Crops Camp Pendleton, CA. Chuck served with the 3rd Marine Division, 12th Artillery Regiment, Battery B in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. He also participated in the Guadacanal, Boganville, Guam and Iwo Jima invasions, Decorations and citations; Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation with two Bronze Service Stars, Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars and the WW2 Victory Medal. Chuck was Honorably Discharged on November 13, 1945.

Chuck worked for the Forest Service and owned Valley Body Shop for many years. He was also involved in Real Estate for 29 years. Chuck married Mary Antonelli in 1946 in new Castle, CO and they raised two sons, Duane and Dick; and daughter Barbara. Mary passed away in 1973. Chuck married Glenda McDonald in Glenwood Springs in 1977. He had three step children, Douglas McDonald (deceased), Cindy Stewart and Dan McDonald. They moved to Grand Junction in 1996. Chuck was an outdoors man and loved gardening, fishing, camping and woodworking.

Chuck is survived by his wife Glenda and sons Duane and Dick Piffer; daughter Barbara (Dan) McDonald; and Cindy Stewart. Chuck leaves behind his grandchildren Shayna Wood, Jason Rippy, Matthew Piffer, Mary Ellen Piffer, Zebulon Piffer (deceased) and Ellie Piffer; step-grandchildren Joy and Jennie McDonald, and great grandchildren Justin Cacciatori, Matteo and Lisa DeCaprio; and Collins and Zebulon Piffer.

Viewing will take place at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary on Friday, December 27, 2013 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral is scheduled at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Glenwood Springs at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2013. Internment will be at Rosebud Cemetery in Glenwood Springs.

Published in The Daily Sentinel from Dec. 25 to Dec. 26, 2013

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