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Charles "Charlie/Chuck" Fick

The youngest of seven children born to Aila and Leonard Fick, Charlie passed away peacefully in Seattle on November 14, 2021. He was born on September 11, 1947, in Sparta, Wisconsin, and was raised in the Village of Wilton. Charlie graduated from Royall High School in 1965, where he was on the honor roll, served as class president his senior year, and was sports team manager. He attended the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, graduating with the degree B.S. in Secondary Education in 1969. He began his teaching career in Manitowoc. In 1973 he moved to the Pacific Northwest where he taught speech and drama at Shorewood High School in Shoreline, a suburb just north of Seattle. 

Charlie was actively involved in the community at an early age. He worked on the milk route, mowed lawns, joined Boy Scouts; in later years he was the village Santa Claus, tended bar, and worked as a short order cook. 

During his senior year in college he spent a quarter abroad in Europe. He and two of his buddies had a close call trying to enter East Berlin as they accidentally took the wrong road. Despite the mishap he continued an interest in travel. He made three more European trips and an extended trip to Australia and New Zealand.

After retiring from teaching, Charlie found another job which he thoroughly enjoyed. He was a research assistant for the Seattle Longitudinal Study on Aging, which investigates what happens to the brain as people age. His love of people and sense of humor served him well in this job.

Charlie loved the Northwest. He did frequent backpacking trips in both the Cascades and the Olympics with his friends, including two attempts to summit Mount Rainier. He enjoyed sailing in the San Juans. His home in Shoreline was lushly landscaped with native plants. 

Theater has always been a part of Charlie. He loved the theater and music scene in Seattle and regularly attended performances at several venues. 

Several members of the Fick family preceded Charlie in death, including his parents, Aila and Leonard Fick; brother Donald Fick from Winona, MN; sisters Joanne Obenberger from Three Lakes, WI and Joyce Harrison from Bloomington, IL; brothers-in-law Gene Hardin, Bruce Harrison, and Bernard Berger; and four nephews. Survivors include sister Elaine Hardin from Seattle, WA; sister-in-law Phyllis Fick from Winona, MN; brother-in-law Tom Obenberger from Oconomowoc, WI; sister Ruth Ann Berger from Haymarket, VA; brother and sister-in-law Ed and Karen Fick from Spicer, MN. Plus twelve nieces and nephews. 

Charlie will be greatly missed by his family and friends. May he rest in peace.


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