Sweeney, Charles Raymond "Chuck" 1928-2015

SWEENEY, HANSEN, DAHLSTROM, WARFORD, BAKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/1/2015 at 08:22:23

Charles R. "Chuck" Sweeney
West Des Moines

Charles R. "Chuck" Sweeney, age 86, passed away peacefully at Kennybrook Village in Grimes, Iowa, on Saturday, April 4, 2015. Services will be held Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with family greeting friends at 10:30 a.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Inurnment will follow at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa with a luncheon to follow at the Veterans Reception Center in Van Meter.

Charles Raymond Sweeney was born June 17, 1928 in Livermore, Iowa to Raymond C. and Lillian Marie (Hansen) Sweeney. He attended grade school in Livermore and then moved with the family to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he graduated as a Dodger in 1947. His height and skill on the basketball floor continued at Fort Dodge Community College. Chuck proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952 during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Japan and always remarked that he was pointed at and referred to by the Japanese people as "B-29" which was the only other largest thing they had ever seen!

Upon his discharge from the Army, Chuck moved to Des Moines and resumed working for Younkers. He was employed in the new, state-of-the-art, Store for Homes downtown in Floor Coverings. He proudly carried the title of Carpet Buyer for 20 years, finally retiring in 1990, ending a 42-year career with Younker Brothers. His partner in life was his dear wife, Vera J. Dahlstrom, whom he married on October 17, 1954, in Newton, Iowa. They enjoyed many trips abroad thanks to Chuck's hard work and relished many memories including sipping sangria in Spain and discovering ancestral roots in Ireland. Most important to them, though, was making a home where Chuck tended beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, often producing tomato plants reaching his own height of 6'4"! As he aged and required more help with daily tasks, he grew to be a patient, and humble, giant.

He rejoins in heaven his wife, Vera; his parents; sisters, Arlene (Bob Seger & nephew Jim) and Evelyn (Otto Warford); his brother, Edward (Mary & nephew Rick); and most of his best friends.

He will be missed deeply by his children, Luanne (Rick) Baker of West Des Moines and Stuart Sweeney of Mt. Airy, Georgia; grandchildren, Lucas and Ryan Baker and Kelly Sweeney; brothers, Ted (Genese) and Ken (Sally) Sweeney; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the loving caregivers at Kennybrook Village in Grimes and asks that any memorials in Chuck's honor be directed to the family who will install at Kennybrook a perennial garden for skilled care patients. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com. ~ The Des Moines Register Legacy, Des Moines, Iowa 22 Jun 2015.