Theodore Robert CHRISCHILLES

CHRISCHILLES, KNUTSON, KRANZ, TEMPLE, HECKMANN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/6/2010 at 10:32:49

August 20, 2008
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

ALGONA, IA - Ted Chrischilles, 88, an Algona businessman for 44 years, died Monday from complications of Parkinson's Disease. He died at the Good Samaritan Society, Algona, where he and his wife, Grace resided for over a year. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Garry-Roberts- Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home in Algona. Funeral services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational UCC in Algona with Reverend Charles D. Gilbert officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery.

Theodore Robert Chrischilles was born July 27, 1920, in Algona, the son of Theo and Irene (Kranz) Chrischilles. He was a lifelong resident of Algona, attending Bryant, Third Ward and Central and O.B. Laing High School graduating in 1938. He was president of his junior class. He attended and graduated from Beloit College in 1942 and shortly after, joined the United States Navy. Ted served three years in the European Theatre, participating in the invasions of Sicily, Italy, and Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day. He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism in the invasion at Salerno, Italy. He commanded landing aircraft in all three invasions. Following discharge, he returned to Algona in 1946 and joined his father and brother, Jack in the operation of the Chrischilles Store, a business that dated back four generations to its founding by his great-grandfather, Theodore in 1870.

On August 10, 1948, Ted was united in marriage to Grace Knutson [of Eagle Grove, Iowa] in Fort Dodge and the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary a few days before his death. The Chrischilles Store gradually evolved from a general store to a Ladies-Ready-To-Wear and Ladies Accessories store through the years. Ted and his brother operated the store jointly until 1981, when Jack moved to Florida. Ted continued to run the store until its closing in 1990, after 120 years under one family. During his years in business, Ted served at various times as President of the Algona Chamber of Commerce, Algona Jaycees, twice as President of the Algona Country Club and in many capacities in the First Congregational Church. Ted loved bowling and playing golf, but his main love was his family.

Surviving are his wife, Grace; two daughters and a son; Cathy Temple of Urbandale; Julie Ann Heckmann of Dubuque; Theodore Gene of Iowa City. Also surviving are two brothers, Jack of Jacksonville, FL; Julian of Okoboji; six grandchildren and six nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruth Ann who died of childhood disease at the age of nine in 1926.