Charles Joseph Stark

Charles Joseph Stark, 75, of Mason City died Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Ed Bard, Chaplain, Hospice of North Iowa, officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Monday (November 1, 2010) at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Charles Stark Memorial Fund.

Charles Joseph Stark was born December 16, 1934 south of Riceville, on the Wapsie, on his grandfathers farm in a snow storm, assisted by a midwife, Myra Benda. When he was about 3 years old his parents, Edwin and Mary (Schanlon) Stark, bought a farm 1 mile west of Achme. He attended rural school Afton "Township" no. 2 thru the 6th grade. He attended 7th and 8th grade in Riceville Community School and obtained his GED in 1956. He helped his father on the farm until February of 1955 when he entered the Army with basic RT Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He also took advanced schooling to be a INT Speed Morse Code Radio Operator. He was transferred to Ft. Lewis, Washington where he was a driver for a full Colonel of the 2nd Division Artillery, attaining the rank of Spec. 3rd class. He married Dorothy Mae Springer on February 15, 1956 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. They made their life in Mason City for almost 55 years. He was honorably discharged in February 1957 and then worked for J.D. Richardson of Clear Lake, Zenor Olds, M.C., McKiness Excavating, and International Minerals. In 1958 he went full time for McKiness Excavating until the spring of 1996 when he had to retire due to health problems. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Union for over 25 years and a past member of many C.B. Clubs. He loved to travel and spend time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Dorothy, 3 daughters, Martha (Roland) Straube of Mason City, Diane (Dave) Myers of Britt, and Susan (Jim) Kingston of Mason City; 1 son-in-law Ed Frank, 14 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild on the way and his brother Vincent (Bernie) Stark of Licking, Missouri; several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Edwin Charles Stark and Mary Cecila (Scanlon) Stark, a daughter Marcia Frank, a son Michael Stark, 1 grandchild, and 4 great grandchildren.

Memorials:
Charles Stark Memorial Fund

Cemetery:
Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery

Visitation:
From 5:00 to 7:00 PM Monday at Major Erickson Funeral Home

Service:
10:30 AM Tuesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home