Charlie Schonberger

Charlie Louis Schonberger, "Charlie", passed away on December 18, 2017, at the age of 83. He was born to Louis and Geraldine Schonberger on April 5, 1934, and grew up around Washington, Missouri.

After high school, he started work at Ford Motor Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Charlie married his high school sweetheart, Mary Louise Lewis. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the army and was sent to El Paso, Texas, where he spent two years. After being discharged from the army, Charlie attended Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield on the GI bill. After graduating with a degree in Industrial Arts, he went back to Ford Motor Company and entered their management trainee program.

Charlie and Mary raised five boys while moving around the US and Canada as he rose through the ranks in Ford Management. No matter where they moved, Charlie and Mary made a great home for their boys. His sons have many fond memories of playing tennis, golf, swimming and boating with their dad, especially at their homes in St. Charles, London Ontario, and Lakewood in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

Over the course of 42 years of Ford employment, Charlie was very successful, becoming a plant manager at a very young age. Later he went on to head up overseas ventures between Ford and other auto manufacturers. He traveled to Great Britain, Spain, Japan, and moved to Mexico to oversee the building and opening of a new auto plant.

After retiring from Ford, Charlie moved to Alabama and built his retirement home on Lake Martin. He became active in the community by volunteering at the local Fire Protection District, as well as the Stillwater Golf Club. He also enjoyed having a vacation home near Titusville, Florida, where he spent his winters. Charlie was a very active individual. He loved to golf and loved traveling around the US and Canada in his RV. He traveled around the world, visiting Europe several times and his golf trips to legendary courses in the USA and Ireland were among the most memorable. One of his best golf memories was when his four sons surprised him on his 70th birthday to enjoy a weekend of golf and laughter.

Charlie put his industrial arts degree to good use when visiting his children's homes. He was always ready to jump into a home improvement project. He also loved living on Lake Martin. His grandchildren have very fond memories of spending a week or two with their grandfather each summer, enjoying water sports and golf. There are many stories of Grandpa taking them on wild tubing rides with his ski boat. Sunset rides on the lake in the pontoon boat were also favorites of everyone who visited. Charlie enjoyed taking the younger grandchildren on golf cart rides around the Stillwater's community, stopping at the fire house, playground and the marina for ice cream. On one trip, there may or may not have been damage done to a golf course restroom, when Grandpa Charlie let a grandchild drive the golf cart!

In the last year, Charlie relocated from Alabama to Colorado to be close to two of his sons. He was thankful to be able to spend so much time strengthening the bonds with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was very appreciative of his family's help, compassion and comfort when his health was declining.

Charlie will live on in our hearts and minds. Especially when one of his sons or grandchildren repeat any one of his many favorite sayings like: "Oh, how the worm has turned", "he hasn't seen the football since the kickoff", "bull in a china closet", or "as useful as tits on a bull". He even had sayings when offering advice or encouragement, such as "don't get your dauber down", or "go get ‘em tiger". All enduring phrases that will always be remembered. And his sons are so thankful that they had such a great example in their dad of what hard work can create and accomplish in life.

Charlie was preceded in death by his son, Mark. He leaves behind four sons: Jeff, Mike, Scott and Doug. He also leaves eleven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one more due in March, his sister, Betty, his brother, Paul, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private service was held in early January for the family. A celebration memorial service is being planned now and details will follow at a later date.