Robert Charter

March 23, 1929 - December 13, 2011

GAASTRA - Robert Allen Charter, 82, of Gaastra, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, at the Iron County Medical Care Facility. Robert was born March 23, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa, son of the late Charles and Jessie (Smith) Charter. He attended Northern Michigan University and University of Stout, earning two master's degrees in education. He worked as a teacher and engineer, which he truly loved. He served in the United States Navy on the submarine USS Conger for seven years. He married the former Kathleen Waraksa Stacy on April 12, 1986, at the United Methodist Church in Crystal Falls. They celebrated 25 wonderful years together. Robert was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Iron County and served as an elder, deacon, and Sunday school teacher. He also served on the West Iron School Board. Bob had a passion for vocational education. Bob also served as a hospice volunteer. He was an avid reader and former ham radio operator. He loved to garden, bake bread and cook. He also loved to spend time with his grandchildren. Robert is survived by his beloved wife, Kathleen; two stepchildren, Paul (Janice) Stacy of Crystal Falls and Kathie (Jeff) Clark of Wilseyville, Calif.; a brother, John (Peg) Charter of Fort Meyers, Fla.; a sister, Anne Charter of Green Valley, Ariz.; daughter-in-law, Birgit Charter of Germany; mother-in-law, Grace Waraksa of Iron River; three sisters-in-law, Chris Polder of Florence, Ore., Martha (Tom) Janswig of Germantown, Wis., and Elizabeth (Steve) Pomeroy of Caspian; a brother-in-law, John (Karen) Waraksa of Edgerton, Wis.; four grandchildren, Kristin and Brad Stacy of Crystal Falls and John and Cindy Charter of Germany ; and one great-grandchild, Alicia Jane Charter of Germany. Robert is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his son, Steve Charter and daughter, Rebecca Charter and a brother-in-law, Gordon Polder. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Iron River. Memorial services will follow Saturday at 11 a.m. at the church. Rev. Dawn Treado-Green will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Iron County. Condolences to the family of Robert A. Charter may be expressed online at nashfuneralhome.net . The family has entrusted the Nash Funeral Home of Crystal Falls with the arrangeme