At the age of 79,

Charles L. 'Chuck' Samuelson At the age of 79, Charles L. Chuck Samuelson went to be with his Savior on Thursday, July 15, 2010, after a five-year battle with lung cancer. Chuck was born on June 6, 1931, in Maynard, Iowa, to Nicholas G. and Ardath (Conrad) Samuelson and was the youngest of four brothers. He was raised on an Iowa farm into his high school years. He attended college in northeast Iowa. Chuck worked and later managed a retail lumber yard. He then served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954, with 16 months in Korea. After military service he returned to a retail lumber business. In 1952, Chuck married Elaine R. Matthias at Klinger Lutheran Church in Readlyn, Iowa. In 1957, Chuck, Elaine and daughter, Suzanne, moved to Columbia Falls, where Chuck was employed at the Plum Creek mill. In 1958, he accepted a job with the U.S. Forest Service and moved to the Condon Ranger Station in the Swan Valley. During the first year, a second daughter, Lori Jean, was born. In 1964, Chuck and family transferred to the Bigfork Ranger Station, serving first as fire dispatcher, later promoted to fire management officer, then retired in 1985. This was followed by 20 years of carpentry and construction work and traveling by motorcycle with his wife Elaine and numerous motorcycling friends. Chuck was faithful and devoted to family and whatever he did. He always strived to do his best, whether it was work, volunteering or enjoyment. Chuck enjoyed his family and grandchildren, as well as hunting, ice fishing, canoeing, woodworking, carpentry and construction, forestry and gardening. He especially enjoyed motorcycle touring and camping around the western United States and east to the Mississippi River and Canadian provinces with motorcycle club friends. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell, Montanans for Multiple Use, Glacier Wings Motorcycle Club, Gold Wing Touring Association, and was a member of the Dirt Bags, a large men s weekly Bible Study group in Bigfork. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Philip and Thomas Samuelson. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, of Bigfork; and two daughters, Suzanne Newgard and husband, B.J., and their son Brandon, and Lori Jean Strodbeck and husband, Mark, and their daughter Leslie and husband Skyler McKinzie, all of Kalispell; and a brother, James Samuelson, and wife, Leila, of Yuma, Ariz. Memorial services for Chuck will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Cutler officiating. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell, MT 59901; or Montanans for Multiple Use, or Home Options Hospice, 430 Windward Way Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Chuck s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Chuck s guest book.