Charles "Chuck" Stiles

Charles “Chuck” D. Stiles, age 90, of Willmar, passed away Monday morning, Jan. 25, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar after a brief stay.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, at the Word of Faith Church in Willmar.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to Focus on the Family Ministries—”Ultra Sound Equipment Fund” or Wycliffe Bible Translators are preferred.  Ardel will divide any monies between the two unless a choice is designated. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Charles “Chuck” Donald Stiles was born on May 16, 1930 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the oldest of five children of Charles A. and Hazel (Buffham) Stiles.  He grew up in the Lake Minnetonka area, was raised in the Christian faith to follow Jesus Christ.  He graduated from Wayzata High School in 1948.  He met the love of his life, Ardel Joy Ufer on a single’s canoe trip to the Boundary Waters through a church retreat.  After dating for several months, they were married in November of 1965.  Chuck and Ardel celebrated 55 years of marriage last November.  They were blessed with five children, Charles, Molly, Dale, Anna and Joylena.  Chuck and Ardel lived in multiple communities throughout Minnesota and spent 32 years raising their children in Northfield before moving to Willmar in 2003.  Chuck’s hobbies included reading books of all kinds, bicycling, listening to classical and big band music, studying maps, watching sunsets and forecasting the weather.  He also enjoyed traveling across the United States (all 48 states) with his family in their RVs.  He was a published author and gifted water color painter.  Chuck had a strong Faith in his Lord and Savior and was ready to go to Heaven!

He is survived by his loving wife, Ardel; six children, Charles Stiles, Molly (and Tony) Morris, Dale (and Colette) Stiles, Anna Stiles, Joylena (and Jesse) Lang and Michael Perkowski; twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  Also surviving are two sisters, Patricia Amidon of Colorado and Sandra Rotherham of New Mexico; two sisters-in-law, Muffy Stiles and Diane Stiles, besides several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and twin brothers, Keith and Kenneth Stiles.