Chuck Schuchard

Charles (Chuck) Schuchard was born on August 29, 1955, to Roy and Beverly (Arnesen) Schuchard in Watertown, SD. Chuck passed away on July 22, 2022, at The University of MN Medical Center, after months of complications following his double lung transplant in November. 

Chuck loved horses and wanted to be a cowboy since he was a toddler.  Wearing a cowboy hat and boots, he loved playing with his toy truck, trailer, and horses. As kids, Chuck, his brothers, and countless neighborhood boys were always outside, riding horses and bikes, playing ball, and fishing in Willow “Crick”. They enjoyed the freedom, adventure, and mischief of growing up in those days on East Kemp.

Chuck’s childhood dream of becoming a cowboy did come to fruition. In fact, he became quite an impressive horseman. In his younger years, he competed in draft horse pulling with his dad and brothers, suicide races, and riding saddle broncs. He trained horses and gave riding lessons. Competing in rodeos and trail riding was always a part of his life, until his illness in 2021.

Chuck joined the National Guard after graduating from Watertown High School. He married Cheryl Bach in 1978. Together, they raised two children, Shane and Shannon, and enjoyed their four grandchildren, until Cheryl’s death in 2011. Their first acreage was near Florence, and later became a part of Joy Ranch. There, Chuck raised and trained horses and Border Collies.  Not surprising, his kids also fell in love with horses, so rodeos and trail rides became a family activity.

Chuck learned veterinarian skills while working alongside Dr. Larson, which came in handy during his time as foreman of his parents’ Sioux River Ranch, where he cared for hundreds of Belgian horses, in addition to cattle and quarter horses. He was also a self-taught farrier.

Janie Fox married her beloved cowboy, Charlie, in a picturesque ceremony at his ranch, where he rode in on a horse, on a serene summer evening, 7-7-17.  Although Chuck and Janie only had 5 years together at the ranch, they made the most of it.  Chuck took great pride in his property. One might have found him mowing his lawn, or tooling around in the golf cart with Janie, enjoying their beautiful yard with the grandkids, watching the ducks swimming in the pond, or practicing golf on his putting green. And we can’t forget to mention his pet buffalo, Buffy, who had many adoring fans.

Charlie, as some called him, was fun loving and lived life to the fullest.  He had many hobbies such as golfing, fishing, and riding his Harleys; he was a member of the Hot Rod Car Club, where he would show his 1965 Mustang, often winning awards. Chuck worked at Sharp Automotive, and was a member of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. 

Preceded in death by his first wife, Cheryl; father, Roy Schuchard; brother, Todd Schuchard; friend and mentor, E.W. Weisel.

Survived by his wife, Janie, and her children, Melissa (Tyler) Barthel and Aaron Fox; his children Shane (Jessica) Schuchard, Shannon (Clay) York; 6 grandchildren:  Shaylee and Sophia Schuchard, Shaelyn and Sloan York, Isabelle and Emma Barthel; his mother, Beverly David; brothers: Randy (Susi) Schuchard and Clay (Tammy) Schuchard; sisters Vikki (Buck) Schaack and Cathi (Jeff) Clapper.

Honorary pallbearers: Tyler Barthel, Aaron Fox, Clay Schuchard, Randy Schuchard, Shane Schuchard, Clay and Sloan York, Gary Haight, Brad Learn, Doug Sharp, Mike Veeder, Casey Yamaura, Joe Jipp, Phil Cyre, Steve Akkerman, Jon Van Jacobs, Reed Garner, Tanner Angermeier, and all of his cowboy and cowgirl friends.

Chuck appreciated, more than words can say, the outpouring of love and prayers given by so many during Chuck’s illness, especially his loving wife, who was by his side to the end.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown, SD.  Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 5:00 –7:00 p.m. and prior to the services on Thursday.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel       www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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