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Charles Edmund Rasch, 88, of Newell, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 at his home, after a short battle with melanoma cancer. Charlie is now reunited with his loving wife of 62 years, JoAnn, which he has dearly missed since her death in 2020.
Funeral services will take place Thursday, Jan. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will follow in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 3, from 4-8 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Newell Fire Department or the Newell Swimming Pool Fund. Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.
Charlie was born Jan. 20, 1935 on a farm north of Newell to Edmund and Augusta (Nelson) Rasch. He was baptized and later confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell, where he would remain a lifetime member. Charlie attended Newell-Providence School where he graduated in 1952. After high school, Charlie proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1957 to 1961.
On Dec. 14, 1957, Charlie was united in marriage to JoAnn Maxine Griffel at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Jackson, Minn. They were blessed with four children: Debora Kay (Frog), Cherilyn Renee (Boop), Karla Kristine (Kog) and Corwin Charles (CC7). Charlie had a nickname for everyone he knew.
Following his discharge, he worked for a farmer in rural Newell until he started working for Bryant Produce (George and Dick Bryant) in Sulphur Springs from 1953 to 1965. Later in 1965, Charlie went to work for the City of Newell for eight and a half years. He was then employed by Buena Vista County Secondary Road Department until his retirement in 2000. After retirement, JoAnn and Charlie would winter in McAllen, Texas for 19 years. Charlie was also the owner/operator of Charlie’s Chicken Coop for 52 years, which was the smallest state inspected processing plant in Iowa. Chicken Charlie, as he would be known, frequently welcomed customers and friends alike with a “Howdy.” His entire family helped with the operation along with several other employees who remained life-long friends.
Staying active in his community, Charlie was a member of the Newell Fire Department for 45 years and also served on the Newell-Fonda school board. He enjoyed playing dartball for many years with St. Peter Lutheran Church. Charlie loved putting puzzles together, maintaining a large garden, playing card games (with “31” being his game of choice), raising a multitude of livestock on the farm (with chickens and turkeys being his favorite).
After JoAnn’s passing, Charlie would pass his time by collecting antiques, where he would meet many friends. In August 2023, he and his best friend, Ralph Hamand, who talked twice a day, traveled together to Oregon to visit Charlie’s nieces and nephews.
Charlie is survived by his children: Deb (Kaj) Overgaard and their children Christian (Kelley) Overgaard, Nels (Courtney) Overgaard, Karina Overgaard and Marianna Overgaard; Cheri McLain and children Tyler (Michelle) Krout and Leslie (Scott) Patten; Karla (Gary) Pickhinke and their children Michelle Schreck, Michael McKenna (Marisa Wurth), Andy (Paige) Pickhinke and Kelsey Pickhinke (Chris Seylar); Corey (Amy) Rasch and their children Karissa Rasch, Caleb Rasch and Colin Rasch; 15 great-grandchildren: Josie, Joy, Reid, Anna, Axel, Henrik, Sophia, Hudson, Thomas, Hunter, Brayden, Bella, Lincoln, Gunnar, Brynlee, Braxton, Mikayla, Kori and Mason.
He was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn; parents, Edmund and Augusta Rasch; sisters, Ruth (John) Barlow and Joyce Blaske; brother Robert (Evelyn) Rasch; parents-in-law; son-in-law Thomas Krout; and beloved Weiner dogs, Frank and Oscar.
