We lost our beloved cousin Chuckie last week and he
is already missed greatly. He was a character of the first order, I think we
all can agree on that point!
Family mattered to Chuck! He was the one who made us all wear name tags at our reunions, which was helpful as all ages arrived to catch up on what the past year had brought to each of us.
Family mattered to Chuck! He was the one who made us all wear name tags at our reunions, which was helpful as all ages arrived to catch up on what the past year had brought to each of us.
Last September, Chuckie turned 70 years young, and
many cousins and family were there at the Taylor Reunion to wish him well with
our best (?) singing voices.
Here are some pictures of our boy:
Chuckie at the 2018 Taylor Reunion with
his 70th Birthday Cake
Here is one taken at Canandaigua Lake when Chuck was
almost 6:
That’s a good size fish!
And no, I was not yet around to take pictures, so
with many of these, thank you again Dad, for always taking pictures!
This one is an oldie, but goodie. From 1956, it is
taken in the garage of our old home on Fielding Road in Greece. From left to
right, Dick Lochner, Chuck Lochner, David Lochner, Harold Taylor, Mary Lou and
Kathy Taylor and Barb Taylor in back.
Here is Chuck at almost 15 years old. Already
wearing that crazy grin and showing off his
love of crazy hats!
Wow! I do not remember Chuckie looking like this,
but I believe Dad’s writing! Chuck is 21 years old here.
Okay, this Chuck I remember—about 28 years old here,
he would play for hours and we would all sing along. Right around this time, he
and I made a pact to someday jump out a plane together. That never did happen,
but it was fun to think about.
Here is Chuck at a Taylor Reunion in 1983. My
brother Chris is the one with the cool Spiderman shirt on behind him and yes,
Chris is eating Cracker Jacks, another staple of our reunions thanks to Uncle
Harold.
Dave and Chuck in 1987 at Ted and Judy’s wedding!
Another reunion! This one in 1989, means Chuck is
about 41 years old. From left to right, Chuck, Rick, Julie, Dave, Ted.
A serious Chuck picture, which I assume is a rarity! From 2003
A serious Chuck picture, which I assume is a rarity! From 2003
From 2017, The Lochner Kids! Rick, Dave, Chuck, Ted
with Julie in front. Thanks to cousin Charlie Hawkes for this picture.
The Lochners at Otty Lake’s Men’s Weekend. How Chuck
LOVED Men’s Weekend! The limburger cheese story is a legend that will live on
forever in the annals of MW. Hiding it behind the water heater so that Mom
could find it a month later was not a way to endear yourself to her, but she
did finally forgive him. Left to right, Andrew, Dave, Ted, Chuck and Rick
Lochner.
Saving the best for last. This is Chuck from the 1983 Reunion. Don’t try to get between Chuck and his cakes (or pies!).
Uncle Harold and Chuck sharing a joke. They are together
now, with Chuck’s Mom and Dad, and my Dad, and so many other cousins and
relatives. Chuck, until we meet again. I will think of you every time I eat a
piece of elderberry pie.
Love you, Cuz.
6 comments:
I have not been a regular Reunion attendee but always enjoyed crossing pathe with Charlie. So sad as we start loosing our generation....remembering also the Taylor boys gone too soon Bob, Jim and Jack.
What a wonderful commemoration to my brother, Pat. Thank you for digging up the pictures and posting comments. For those of us who have spoken to Chuck in the last several months, he actually seemed somewhat happy for the first time in a long, long time. He had thoughts of retiring and was planning some travel and looking forward to life with fewer responsibilities. He was proud of the fact he’d achieved a goal to be financially independent. We talked about this recently. He’d achieved his goal, just as I had achieved mine of living in the mountains of Colorado. I know we will all miss him, especially at Men’s Weekend which gave him reason for living and at Family Reunions which were extremely special to him. His birthday celebrations which just happened coincide were clearly a thrill. His birthday was September 24, and someone always remembered cake. I love that, and I love and will miss you, Chuckie.
I only met the Lochners a few times, but I went to school in Spencerport with David. I only remember a little of Chuck and the rest of the family. I cut their mom's hair once, after she begged, but she hated it, at first, until several people told her how great it looked. It's so tough losing this generation, but how blessed we are to have such great pictures to keep our memories alive!!!
Check the stories from June and July 2008 for memories of other cousins who died too young, including Bob, Jim and Jack.
Wonderful pictures of Chuck, especially with the beard. Men's Weekend will be different this year. Instead of Chuck walking around talking with everyone, everyone will walk around and talk about Chuck.
Pat, as cousin Julie wrote, this is a great tribute to someone we all loved and who made us smile and laugh at every family reunion. No one could greet you like Chuck, and no one could make you feel so completely accepted and part of the family no matter how far away you lived or how seldom you had the chance to see him.
What a shock to hear that someone so full of life is gone. Who will snap so many great photos the next time we get together? Who will send each one as he did to so many of us? Who has Chuck's warm, generous, and yet deeply contrary heart?
The answer is "all of us," each in many ways.
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