Obituary of Charles Clagett

Charles Daniel Clagett was born February 20, 1931 in Tiffin, Ohio to Josiah and Jessie Clagett. Josiah was a WWI Veteran, rural route postal carrier, and noted conservationist; Jessie was an accomplished artist, poet, and lover of dogs. His brother, John M. Clagett of Loveland, CO, also a Veteran, preceded him in death. Chuck graduated from Columbian High School in 1949, enlisted in the National Guard and worked the family farm until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1953. While stationed at Ft. Carson, CO, he met Norma Helen "Tuffy" Theisen, of Hugo, CO. Chuck joined the Catholic Church, and they were married at Chapel 9 at Ft. Carson on October 16, 1954. He served in the Army Reserve after his stint at Ft. Carson and resigned from that in 1958. He was a Korean War Veteran. Chuck went to work for Mountain Bell, and Norma was the bookkeeper for Simpson & Co. They were single-minded in their devotion to their sons and active participants in their lives. Family vacations revolved around camping, fishing, taking multiple trips to Yellowstone, building a family cabin, and riding motorcycles. They were members of Divine Redeemer Church and were active in the St. Mary's Booster Club, never missing a game throughout their sons' athletic careers. Chuck coached Cub Scout softball, YAL football, planted trees, fished most of the waters of Colorado and Wyoming, and hunted small game on the eastern plains. He loved to discuss all things mechanical with one son and loved pitching horseshoes with the other and his buddies over a cold beer or two. Norma died January 3, 1980 after a brief illness, and Chuck was a little lost. And then along came Laura Mae Solze. Needing a "safe" date for a Hugo VFW event, Laura invited Chuck. Safe date indeed…their courtship included at least one date on his Yamaha 500. Chuck retired from AT&T and Fr. Kennedy married them on the 4th of July 1983 in Minturn, CO. In their early years, Laura published the "Eastern Colorado Plainsman" in addition to her other business interests, and Chuck worked with a number of rural telephone companies as a troubleshooter. They started dealing in antiques and especially enjoyed the company of their fellow vendors. They traveled when it pleased them but were always available to their large, blended family. Chuck was a busy man…there were always critters to feed, varmints to hunt, trees to trim, and gardens to tend, all accomplished with his dog at his side. He was single-minded in his devotion to his entire clan, and loved bolo ties. He was a teddy bear with a heart as wide as the plains and a head hard as a rock. Thank you, Dad for teaching us how to live like men. Say "hey" to the gang. Chuck is survived by son Rob and wife Mary Anne, son Gary and wife Lisa, and their children: Jeremy and Christina of St, Louis, Ben of Colorado Springs, Katy of Lawrence, KS, Kathryn of Colorado Springs, Mark of Colorado Springs, nephews Wayne Banks, John Clagett, Tom Clagett, J. Kelly Theisen and nieces Linda Ashmore and Sheryl Richeson, son Chris Solze and wife Shennan, daughter Diane Quinn and husband Frank, daughter Audrey Rose and husband Tony and 11 grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.