Charles R. 'Chuck' Leif
Charles R. “Chuck” Leif, age 77, of Minneapolis, Minn., passed away on Friday, June 21, 2024.
Chuck was born on Nov. 19, 1946, in Austin, Minn. Chuck grew up in Austin with two younger brothers and 22 cousins and three more in Albert Lea, Minn. Chuck attended 12 years of school in the parochial school system, starting with Columbus Grade School and graduating from Pacelli High School in 1965. He also attended St. Mary’s Seminary in 1965 and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1969 from St. Mary’s College.
After college, Chuck enlisted in the Army. After boot camp, he received advanced training in electronics and spent a year and a half in Vietnam. He was in the Army but spent most of his time on a Navy ship working on the repair of military helicopters. He made trips to Saigon and Danang and, while on leave, he traveled to Japan.
After an honorable discharge from the Army, Chuck decided to forgo his teaching degree and pursued a career in computer electronics. He attended and graduated from Devry University in Chicago. Chuck was able to retire early, and he went on to serve with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Dept. Dive Team. They would do dives 12 months a year. This included diving under the ice. He also patrolled Lake Minnetonka by snow mobile in the winter and by jet ski in the summer.
After the age of 50, Chuck got into boxing and spent Sundays sparring with relatives and friends in his basement ring. Chuck was able to share his life with his best friend Robert. They spent summers in the cabin that was built by Chuck’s great-grandfather prior to 1900. Chuck and Robert gardened at both homes in Minnesota and Iowa and took pride in their canned tomato juice.
Chuck was survived by brother John (Shirley), Mankato, Minn.; brother Mike (Robbin), Oakland, Fla.; nephew Jeremy (Kieu); great nephews Austin and Hudson, Golden Valley, Minn.; and John’s daughter Erin Schroeder, Peoria, Ill. Chuck shared his life with best friend Robert Homstad; Robert’s daughters Alexi Elliott and Elisabeth (Nick) Tilemans and grandson Graham Tilemans, all of Minneapolis, Minn.; Aunt Elaine Leif, Bemidji, Minn.; and many cousins and friends and his beloved dog IRIS.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Gerald Leif of Austin, Minn., and a nephew, Christopher Leif of Mankato.
Funeral service will be July 10, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Bloomington, Minn. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church, with the funeral service at 11 a.m., and reception to follow at the church.
Memorial and burial service will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in McGregor at 1 p.m. on July 11.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to the Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity.
