Charles Joseph Jira

A Nebraska native, Chuck was the baby of the family. Together, with brother Wenceslaus, Jr. and sister, Marie, the Jira kids were a tight knit crew. As the family moved from Nebraska to Missouri. . . and then back to Nebraska, Chuck made new friends with ease. In high school, he spent hours tinkering with engines and working on cars. Early on, his friends learned “if you are waiting on me, you’re wasting time!”

Chuck became a Navy man in 1957, a post he proudly held for “4 years, 11 months, and 28 days.” During his naval service, Chuck learned the trade that would come to define his family owned and operated businesses. For five decades, Chuck was the brains, brawn, and founder of Jira Heating and Cooling (1973) and Tiger Ice (1977). And you can “bet your money, marbles, or chalk” he poured his heart and soul in to both companies, taking enormous pride in building relationships with his customers. Chuck treated Jira Heating and Cooling and Tiger Ice employees like family. His work ethic set a high bar: “I’d like to stick around, but some of us have to work for a living.” Chuck’s snappy sense of humor and commitment to a hard day’s work are among the many reasons Chuck’s employees built their careers at one or both of his companies.

In 2003, Chuck decided it was time to expand Tiger Ice. Today, Tiger Ice is housed in a 9,000 square foot plant Chuck designed and built from the ground up. Never officially “retired,” it’s safe to say he wasn’t “just makin’ pea soup” all those years after all.

Chuck’s proudest accomplishment is his family. As a senior in high school, he wooed Sheila Broz, three years his junior. They eventually married in December 1968, the result of not one, not two, but three marriage proposals. From day one, Sheila was “the best wife I’ve got.”

1968 marked another milestone for Chuck with the purchase of what he considered “his only sole possession.” Before tying the knot, Chuck poured his savings into his cherished ‘69 Plymouth GTX, the muscle car he had restored to perfect condition in 2016, a process that took nearly three years. After all, “You can’t rush these things. . .”

Together, Chuck and Sheila built their dream home (one of the first houses in Missouri to use solar energy and still the family home to this day!) and dream life. Chuck loved teaching his “Number 1" son Andy the tricks of the trade and “favorite” daughter Amy, who “had enough mouth for four sets of teeth,” was the apple of his eye.

Chuck always went the extra mile for his 14 nieces and nephews from the Konecky, Broz, and Armstrong Jira families. The more time he could spend with them, the better! Chuck spent hours in his shop with Jeffrey and Andy turbocharging their 4-wheelers to hit the mid-Missouri race tracks. Win or lose, Chuck was the best coach and cheerleader. “You’re driving like a one-eyed taxi-cab driver,” and “You scare me to death, and I’m fearless!” remain favorite Jira pep talks.

As a father-in-law, Chuck embraced Cindy and Dan as his very own. Together, their families traveled the world. From Mexico to Italy, and Las Vegas to Florida, with a few cruises in between, Chuck saw vacations as the perfect time to relax, spend time with all his kids, and enjoy life to the fullest – anything else would be “just as wrong as drinking your own bathwater.”

In addition to family man and businessman, Chuck held many other important titles. From “El Presidenté” of the Mizzou Gymnastics Booster Club to aliases “Clyde Suckfinger” and “Hogan Sawfox” Chuck proudly boasted the title Snowbird when he and Sheila recently began to winter in Englewood, Florida. Eighty-five degrees and sunny was Chuck’s ideal climate—perfect for pool days with his granddaughters. Life in Florida brought back great memories of days spent on the pontoon at the Lake of the Ozarks. But make no mistake about it, even as a Snowbird, eagle-eyed Chuck kept tabs on Tiger Ice and Jira Heating and Cooling all the way from the Sunshine State, vigilantly checking the security cameras from his iPad and eagerly reporting – sometimes hourly – his findings to Andy and Amy.

Chuck welcomed any reason to host a party, roast weenies, and show off his shop kegerator. New Year’s Eve, Halloween, and Easter were among Chuck’s favorite holidays. Part of Chuck’s legacy is undoubtedly the Jira Family Easter Extravaganza, a 43-year-old tradition that has welcomed hundreds of family members and friends who take to the Jira’s front yard in search of thousands of eggs—"that’s more eggs than you can shake a stick at!” Easter weekend also marked the day on which Chuck could resume enjoying “barbequed watermelon and fried cantaloupe,” his favorite Lenten sacrifices.

It is important to address the obvious question: Did Chuck reveal his secret ice recipe in his final days? Nope, “just as sure as he was a brain surgeon and jet pilot. . .” he didn’t. He took that secret to his grave. But Chuck’s legacy lives on through his beautiful bride Sheila, hard-working, loyal children Andy Jira (Cindy) and Amy Johnson (Dan), and his 4 granddaughters, Maddie, Avery, Alex, and his namesake, Charlie. Chuck’s wisdom will also live on forever. After all, “Life’s too short for this! Slow down, you donkey!”

It should come as no surprise that at the suggestion of flowers or donations, Chuck would have said, “Don’t waste your money on me!” However, should you decide to donate on his behalf, please consider contributing to Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School (Andy and Amy’s alma mater and current school to Maddie, Avery, Alex, and Charlie.)

Chuck sure did have a “bushel basket full” of sayings. Let’s continue to celebrate Chuck by sharing his wisdom and humor! What’s your favorite “Chuck-ism?”