CHARLES STUART CAVANAUGH

     Charles Stuart Cavanaugh, 86, of Black River Falls, passed away Jan. 17, 2023, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI, after a brief illness. He was born Dec. 28, 1936, in Brooklyn, NY. At age 17, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a medic in the Korean War. Charlie had many diverse interests and occupations, ranging from cook, police and security officer, mechanic and welder, to nursing and health and security officer for Wiley Organics as well as pastoring a church for a few years. If you talked to Charlie, you knew his knowledge and experiences were extraordinary.

     Charlie accepted Christ as his Savior at age 58 at Baudette, MN, when he came to understand, “I owed a debt, and I needed a Savior to wash my sins away.” Charlie loved talking to people, (especially veterans), playing games and spending time with friends.

     Mention should be made of his cat, Connie, and his dog, Dixie, who when she died was replaced with Hank.  Each was loved and cared for.

     Charlie had four children, John, Lori, Patricia and Verna. He had a brief marriage later in life with Elizabeth (Betty) Lipka, who died suddenly Oct. 31, 2011.

     Special thanks to his caregivers Kayla Hansen and Rebecca Franks as well as to those who paid him visits.

     A memorial service in Charles’ honor will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, at the Gospel Hall, 307 North 8th Street in Black River Falls, WI. All who knew him are invited to attend and remember Charlie. His ashes will be buried at a later date in the veteran’s cemetery in Spooner, WI