Obituary: Charles A. Naasko Jr.

As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:

Charlie Naasko, a longtime resident of Chassell and Toivola, MI and Wauwatosa, WI, passed away peacefully at home on June 28th, 2023. Charlie was born at home at his family’s Toivola homestead on Old Rink Road to Charlie Sr. and Esther (Maki) Naasko. He is survived by his daughters; Cheryl Naasko Pounds (Troy) of Wauwatosa, WI and Lois Naasko as well as his ex-wife/good friend, Helen Ojanen Mueller both of New Smyrna Beach, FL. Brother Tom lives in Pelkie; sisters Margie Wickstrom-Chapel and Arbutus Durocher preceded him in death and most recently brother David went to join them.

Also surviving are many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. Charlie worked hard all his life; starting with the ships on the Great Lakes and serving in the U.S. Army in Korea. Most of his career was spent as a Power Plant Operator in Milwaukee and though he hated the swing shifts, he was proud to always provide well for his family. He loved to garden and had a “green arm” and grew bushels of tomatoes every year. His favorite things to do were simple: being outdoors in the country, enjoying a visit with coffee and cake, and playing the stock market a bit. He did not suffer fools well and he let you know it, but he loved his family and was proud of his daughters. He celebrated wisdom and common sense in people and will be remembered fondly as a curmudgeon in the best sense of the word. In his retirement in the U.P., he enjoyed reconnecting to his roots and testing his remembered Finnish language he learned from his grandparents.

The family will be celebrating his life with a burial of his ashes next to his parents in the Toivola
Cemetery at 1pm on Wednesday, July 10 th followed immediately by a meal hosted at the South Range Lounge starting at 2pm. All family, friends and neighbors are invited to share in enjoying Charlie’s favorite foods and having a good “Finnish visit” with the family.

To view Charlie’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Chassell Chapel has been assisting the family with the arrangements.