Charles "Chuck" Reckard

Mass of Christian Burial for Charles "Chuck" Reckard, age 94, of Arnolds Park will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Please visit  St. Joseph Catholic Church - Milford, Iowa for the funeral live stream. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Milford following Mass. The Rosary will take place prior to the service beginning at 9:00am with visitation from 9:30-10:30am all at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Dickinson County Hunger Coalition at PO Box 617 Spirit Lake, IA 51360.

Charles Gerard (Chuck) Reckard, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa where he had recently become a resident. Chuck was born on March 30, 1931, to Irven and Agnes (Gerard) Reckard on the farm in Bradgate, Iowa. Chuck loved living on the farm with his dad and spent as much time as he could with him. After his dad passed away suddenly when Chuck was nine years old, he moved with his family to Rolfe, Iowa where he spent his time working at various jobs like delivering papers and painting signs. Then, at age thirteen, he was hired to work as a farmhand on the Wm Kemna farm and was there until his graduation from Rolfe High School in 1949. After graduation, Chuck joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After being honorably discharged in 1954, and with the passion for agriculture instilled in him from his father and working for Bill Kemna, Chuck attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1957. While in school he met and married the love of his life, Mary Ruth (Seger) on December 27,1956, in Livermore, Iowa. After graduation, Chuck and Mary Ruth made their first home in Worthington, Minnesota where Chuck was the High School Vocational Agricultural Instructor at the nearby Sioux Valley Public School. Soon after, they moved back to Rolfe where Chuck taught Vocational Agriculture at his alma mater, Rolfe Public School. A few short years later, Chuck and Mary Ruth moved to Lakefield, Minnesota where Chuck became the Adult Agricultural Instructor, and their family made Lakefield their home. Later, Chuck moved from teaching into banking and was a Loan Officer and bank Vice President at banks in Lakefield and later in Beauford and Lake Crystal, Minnesota, retiring in 1993. In retirement, Chuck and Mary Ruth enjoyed their six kids and their families and spending their winters in Mission, Texas where they made special memories and friends. Chuck was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, a 4H Leader, FFA advisor and volunteer at school and his church.

Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-eight years, Mary Ruth of Arnolds Park, IA; their six children: Paul (Virginia), of Colorado Springs, CO, Kenneth (Patricia) of Courtland, MN, Wayne (Jody) of Grafton, WI, Dianne (Paul) Breitbarth of Ankeny, IA, Joan of Eagan, MN, and Carol (Mike) Jensen of Tripp, SD; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; and brother Joe (Mary) Reckard of Moline, IL. Chuck is also survived by Mary Ruth’s twin brother John Richard Seger (Marvel) of Mission, TX, and sister Susan Behr of Mason City, IA, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irven and Agnes, sisters and their spouses, Roberta and husbands Jack Elis and Leroy Wright, and Ann and Jerry Leuer, and Mary Ruth’s sisters and their spouses Nancy and Bobby Rummens, JoAnne and Jon Peterson, and Chuck Behr.

Chuck was a devoted husband and father who instilled in his children the importance of hard work, faith, and family. He was a man of integrity, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and community. Blessed be the name of Charles Gerard Reckard.