Charles E. Cornelius

Age 88 of Oak Park Heights, MN, formerly of Montevideo, MN, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2017 in St. Paul, MN. Charley was born November 29, 1928 in Rosholt, SD to Oscar and Mayme (Erdahl) Cornelius. He graduated from Rosholt High School in 1946 and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. He married Darleen Osterman on June 21, 1953. He was in the US Army from July 1954 to July 1956 serving in Germany with the 7th Army, 524th Engineering Company, Intelligence and Mapping Section. He worked for the US Geological Survey from 1949 to 1991, in the topographic and water resources divisions. Charley lived in Grand Forks, ND, Burnsville, MN and Montevideo, MN for 35 years, until 2008, when he and Darleen moved to Boutwells Landing in Oak Park Heights, MN. Charley received his pilot’s license in high school and had a lifelong love of airplanes and flying. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, time at the cabin in Park Rapids, MN, winters in Destin, FL, hunting, fishing, golfing, and his many friends and family. He is survived by wife, Darleen; daughters, Char (Paul) Cady, Peggi (Gino) Monico; grandchildren, Ben Cady, Charley Cady and Anna Monico; brother, Stanley (Sharon); sister, Marian; brother-in-law, Allen (Debbie); sisters-in-law, Lenore and Gloria Cornelius, Diane Helgeson; many nieces and nephews and foreign exchange daughter, Olga (Jose) Zabala. He is preceded in death by daughter, DeAnn; parents, Oscar and Mayme; father and mother in law, Henry and Anne Osterman; brothers, Maurice (Agnes), Curtis and Ronald; brother-in-law, Darryl Nelson; brother and sister in law, Dean and Bev Osterman. Service of Remembrance 11:30AM Monday 1/9/17 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd., Mahtomedi, MN. A visitation will be 1 hour prior. Private interment Bethania Cemetery in Rosholt, SD at a later date.