Charles Uhrig

On Wednesday, October 31st, 2018, Charles Louis (Chuck) Uhrig, loving husband and father of 2, passed away at the age of 83. Chuck was born on October 16, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri. The youngest son of Louis Robert and Kitty Rea (Haskins) Uhrig. A graduate of Carrollton High School in 1954, he received his Engineering Degree from Central Missouri State University in 1974

In the fall of '54, at CMSU, he met the love of his life Ann (Roonie) Hamlin. Married in 1958 they soon started their family with Timothy Wayne in 1959 and John Louis in 1961. Chuck pulled out of college in 1957 in order to get money together and set up house. At this time he was working for one of his fathers business's, Uhrig Trailers, Welding and Machine, where they built horse trailers and trailer frames for mobile homes. Go-Karting was popular at the time, and they became dealers in Hustler Go-Kart frames and McCulloch Chainsaws. They built their karts with twin McCulloch engines and started racing. Chuck said they clocked him in St. Louis at 116 mph!

Chuck got bitten by the gun bug in the early 60's. With the help of a close friend, he became an amateur gunsmith and soon was building himself custom rifles and muzzleloaders. In his retirement, he built a Mountain Howitzer Cannon, which Chuck and Roonie took to Civil War re-enactments. They had uniforms for both the North and the South and would "fight" for whichever side needed his artillery.

In 1967 he sold his half of the family business and began working for Shor-Line Mfg, where he was a draftsman for their veterinary cages. Chuck introduced a unique design for the cages and was awarded a U.S. Patent in 1974. Later that year, he started another career as Plant Manager for Kennedy Van Brush.

Chuck decided it was now time to follow his dream and moved his wife and sons to Rustic, Colorado in 1978. That summer they started building a beautiful log home and in the fall Chuck started work for the Colorado Department of Transportation. For 5 years he plowed snow and patched asphalt until they journeyed to Alaska – 300 miles North of the Arctic Circle !

Roonie was employed as a Special Education teacher and Chuck became Plant Manager for Atqasuk school in 1983. Then in 1988 he took the position of Maintenance Superintendent of the North Slope Borough School District in Point Barrow. Everything North of the Brooks Range was his responsibility. It is the largest school district in the US at 93,000 square miles. In 1991 there was a “Buy Out”, and Chuck and Roonie met the required tenure. Retired at last!

The Uhrigs were able to become “Snow Birds”, spending their winters in Arizona and summers in Colorado. With a small RV they traveled most of the US including a trip along the Al-Can Highway to the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. They also made 5 trips to Europe, where they learned how to take advantage of the local bed and breakfast accommodations.

Chuck enjoyed hunting and fishing in Missouri, Colorado and Alaska. He is an Eagle Scout and former Scoutmaster. A member of The Tribe of Mic-O-Say as Sachem Big Wise Crow. He later learned silversmithing and became an instructor to many others in Arizona.

Roonie, his wife of 60 years, passed just this last June. He is survived by son, Tim (Claudia) Uhrig of Loveland, CO., son John (Samantha) Uhrig of Carlsbad, NM. Grandchildren, Stephanie(Mike) Killer of Fort Collins, Travis Uhrig of Dickinson, ND, Justin Uhrig (Amanda Sirokman) of Loveland, CO and Jesse Uhrig of Carlsbad, NM. Also, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Chuck loved his family and innumerable friends. His stories will be greatly missed.

A memorial service and celebration of life at the Poudre Chapel Column Barium is planned for the spring. Details to be determined.

In lieu of flowers a donation to either Boy Scout Troop 3 of Harrisonville, MO or Boy Scout Troop 212 of Carlsbad, NM would be greatly appreciated.

Troop 3 Harrisonville,MO

Call Mike Walker – Scoutmaster (816) 935-4296

email [email protected]

Troop 212 Carlsbad,NM

Call John Uhrig – Scoutmaster (575) 200-9499

email [email protected]