Chuck served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War and was a proud graduate of the University of Michigan. He worked for AAA before beginning a 28-year career with Ford Motor Company in 1963.
Chuck retired from Ford in 1991 after living in Michigan and Ohio and, finally, settling in Alabama in 1979. He married his wife of 31 years, Jill Chavey, in 1987 in Birmingham, and they lived in Tampa, FL, Sydney, Australia, Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX before returning to Birmingham in 2001.
Chuck was a devoted husband, brother, uncle and great uncle with a passion for golf, sporting clays, dogs (especially his Labrador Retrievers Megan, Smoke and Jake), college football, and politics. He never missed the Rush Limbaugh show nor an Alabama or Michigan football game in the fall. His kindness, generosity, and sense of humor will be missed by many.
Chuck was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Nikoden, and his father, Charles Nikoden. Survivors include Chuck's wife, Jill of Birmingham; brother, Donald Nikoden of Howell, MI; sister, Patricia Harrison of Clinton Township, MI; brothers-in-law, Larry McGee and wife Jeanne of Canon City, CO and Dr. Rusty Chavey and wife Kara of Ann Arbor, MI; sisters-in-law, Chris Altman and husband Bob of Amarillo, TX, Sandy Peters of Shawnee, KS, and Tracy Schamburg of Fenton, MO; nieces and nephews, Dawn Walker of Howell, MI, Debbie Smith and husband Jerry of Lincoln Park, MI, Tim Harrison of Eastpointe, MI, Lawrence Harrison and wife Kristina of Ada, MI, Cary Harrison and wife Maria of Roseville, MI, Nancy Dellies and husband Jim of Clinton Township, MI, Alex Altman and wife Jessica of Seattle, WA, Claire Altman and husband David Reed of Columbia, MO, Andrew Altman and wife Brittany of Amarillo, TX, Halley Netsch and husband Marc of Irving, TX, Will Chavey of Menlo Park, CA, Sarah Chavey of San Antonio, TX, Joe Chavey of Ann Arbor, MI, Maggie Chavey of Dallas, TX, Lucy Chavey and Christopher Chavey of Ann Arbor, MI, Trey Schamburg of Fenton, MO, and Wils Schamburg of Columbia, MO; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Private burial will take place at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL. The family will greet friends to celebrate Chuck’s life on Thursday, May 24, 2018 from 4–7 p.m. Additional information available at (205) 542-2637.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial gifts to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, PetSmart Charities, or other favorite charity.
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