Charlie Leffler

Charles Victor Leffler, 84, of Eaton, passed away on Jan. 1, 2023, surrounded by family. Born Aug. 11, 1938 at home in Windsor to Victor and Elizabeth Leffler, nee Lind, he was the first of their ten children.

The family later moved to a farm near Eaton. Charlie graduated from Eaton High School in 1956, where he was a member of the school’s FFA Chapter. He received a superior rating for livestock judging as well as earning a State FFA Degree in 1955. Following high school, he joined the United States Army for two years where he was stationed at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey. It was here that he met and married Anne Harris. Following his military service, Charlie returned to Eaton with Anne, where their family grew to include three children: Glenn, Nancy, and Mike.

In Eaton, Charlie joined his father in a farming business which would later expand to include two of his brothers. The production included growing corn, potatoes, hay, and sugar beets. He was the recipient of several High Ten Grower awards from the Great Western Sugar Company; recognition reserved for only the best of the sugar beet farmers. Through the years, the farm operation grew to include feeding sheep, pigs and cattle. He developed a special expertise in the cattle feeding industry, an interest he refined during six decades in the business. That knowledge would later result in an invitation to join the board of Directors for Producers Livestock Marketing Association where he served from 1997 to 2006. As the town of Eaton expanded west in the late 1990s, the brothers turned part of their farmland holdings into the Governor’s Ranch subdivision, a project that would span many years and reshape the community.

Charlie was a founding member of the Faith Lutheran Church of Eaton in 1965, a member of T-Bone Club, a member of the Duck Creek Grazing Association, and served on the advisory board of the Eaton High School FFA Chapter throughout the 1980s.

In 1998, he married Bernadene Simpson.

After “retiring” from the family farm in 2008, he began helping his son Glenn with his farm and cattle feeding business. He worked nearly every day of his retirement until his health began to fail.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John, sister Ann, and nephew Owen.

He is survived by his wife Bernadene, his children, Glenn (Shannon) Leffler of Eaton, Nancy (Butch) White of Ault, and Mike (Carrie) Leffler of Eaton, eight grandchildren: Nathan (Chloe) White, Holly (Jacob) Gregg, Maddison (Mason) Dickinson, Amber White, Sydney, Ahana, Cullen, and Linnea Leffler, and great grandson Isom White. Surviving siblings include Larry Leffler of Stockton, CA, Dorothy (Dave) Bates of Kersey, Linda (Larry) Broyles of Goodyear, AZ, Dick (Lois) Leffler of Loveland, Phill (Joanie) Leffler of Greeley, Karen (Rich) Forbes of Plano, TX, Russ (Gwen) Leffler of Eaton, and 25 nieces and nephews.

Surviving stepchildren include Lenny (Lisa) Simpson, Deena (Kent) Sughroue, Jason (Marinda) Simpson, step-grandchildren Nikki (Brennan) True, Logan Simpson, Amanda (Callen) Ledall, Megan Sughroue, and Cade Simpson.

He will be remembered for his enduring work ethic, his dry wit, and his love of gatherings with family, friends, and good food. He will also be remembered as a doting grandfather and great grandfather.

A private memorial service will be held Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. at Allnutt Funeral Home in Greeley.

The family is hosting a Celebration of Life on Friday, Jan. 27, from 3-6 p.m. at the Eaton Recreation Center, 1675 Third St., Eaton. Friends are welcome to join family for a gathering to include good food, just as Charlie would have wanted it. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Faith Lutheran Church in Eaton or the Eaton High School FFA Chapter.