Charles O. Brizius, 95, of Whitewater, WI, passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Charles was born on March 23, 1929 in Evansville, Indiana to Oscar and Laurena (Inderrieden) Brizius of Newburgh, IN. His sister, Mary, married Edmund Weingart and settled in Oakland, CA.
Charlie met his sweetheart, Ruth E. Blum, at McCormick’s Creek State Park in Indiana. Soon after they married, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to Korea during the Korean War. Their first child, Chuck, was born during that time. After the war he attended Cumberland Law School in Lebanon, Tennessee and then practiced law until his retirement at age 65. Charlie and Ruth had one son, Charles (Chuck), and two daughters, Cherry and Kathe. Charlie and Ruth were happily married for 62 years, until Ruth’s passing in 2013.
Charlie had started his own law practice in Chicago with the idea of helping those who needed it most. Coinciding with his retirement from the law, he graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, and was ordained in the United Church of Christ, at which time he was called to pastor the UCC Church in Reeseville, Wisconsin. He served there for 10 years until retiring again at age 75. Upon his second retirement, he became an active member of the Whitewater Congregational United Church of Christ and had many dear friends and neighbors in Elkhorn and Whitewater.
One of his great joys in recent years was to serve and bless others, whether his church, those in need, or his family. He loved to sail in the Lauderdale Lakes of Wisconsin while he and Ruthie lived there, always enjoying when family and friends would visit, with a beloved dog (2 Golden retrievers, one after the other, both “Annabelles”) by his side. He traveled to see his children, grands and great-grandchildren as often as he could. He loved us all dearly and will be dearly missed!
Charles is survived by his daughters, Cherry (Cheryl) with husband, Rev. Ron Gonzales of Walla Walla, WA, and Kathe with husband Rev. Tom Meling of Slippery Rock, PA, and along with seven grandchildren: Jenni, Laura and David; Shane, Robin, Dawn and Jodi; and 17 great-grandchildren, as well as Blum and Weingart nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar C. and Laurena Brizius; his wife, Ruth Brizius, his son, Charles W. Brizius, and sister, Mary Weingart (and her husband, Edmund).
The family will gather in Newburgh, Indiana this summer to inter Charles’ remains with Ruthie’s. God bless you, Dad. May you rest in His peace and rise in glory.
Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com
