Charles R. Vessey, 83, of Wellington, died of a heart attack at work on Monday June 3, 2024.
Chuck was born to Charles and Lucille Vessey on August 20, 1940 in Mitchell, South Dakota. The family moved from Wessington Springs, South Dakota several years later and Chuck went to school in Colorado Springs, Denver, Estes Park and finally at age eight, Fort Collins, Colorado. He graduated Fort Collins High School in 1958.
His favorite memories were his time working on the farm in Wessington Springs as a young man. He joined the U S Navy in 1959 and was an Air Crew Member on Lockheed Constellations, serving at Barbers Point, Hawaii and Midway Island. After being discharged from the Navy, he returned to Fort Collins and attended Colorado State University where he was a proud member and officer of the Delta Eta Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. While at CSU he met and married Linda Briles.
After graduating with a degree in Finance they moved to Torrance, California and he became an Applications Engineer in Aerospace Fasteners at Briles Manufacturing. They returned to Fort Collins in 1970 and Chuck, his father, Don, and brother, Steve, opened C D Fasteners in 1972 which he operated until his death.
From 1976 to 1984, he flew as a pilot for Valley Airpark Commuter Service/ Air Link when not consumed with work at C D Fasteners.
After his father’s death, he took on more responsibility as the manager of the Cherry Hills Sanitation District.
Chuck married Jeri Rogers in 2003 in Fort Collins and they made their home in Wellington. After they were married, Jeri began working at C D Fasteners, becoming a great partner for Chuck. Together, they traveled often in one of their many motor homes. Chuck loved toys and every few years would upgrade his motorhome to one that was bigger and better, ending up with a 40 foot diesel pusher.
For his 80th birthday, Chuck bought himself a bigger bike, a six cylinder Honda Gold Wing. Chuck and Jeri loved to travel and often made trips to Hawaii. Last month they vacationed in Honolulu with son Wil and his family. Earlier this month they visited Jeri’s daughter in Akron, Ohio. Chuck lived life to the fullest and actually rode both of his motorcycles to the bank and Post Office on the day of his death.
Chuck is survived by his loving wife, Jeri, son William (Corie) Vessey of Yuma, Arizona, daughter Shelby (Scott) Randle of Oklahoma City, OK, step daughter Rebecca Greenstreet of Akron, Ohio, brothers Don, Bob and Steve Vessey and five (5) grandchildren.
A funeral service was heldatSt.Luke’sEpiscopal Church on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Jeff Krantz officiating. Interment took place at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver on Wednesday June 12, 2024 at 1:30 p.m., Staging area “B” with military honors. . Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers in care of Vessey Funeral Service. You are invited to leave a condolence for the family on the Vessey Funeral Service website, www. afterall.com.