Charles R. "Chuck" Sweeney

Charles Raymond (“Chuck”) Sweeney was born June 17, 1928 in Livermore, Iowa, to Raymond C. and Lillian Marie (Hansen) Sweeney. He was the first son in a family which grew to include 6 children. He attended grade school in Livermore and then moved with the family to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he graduated as a Dodger in 1947. His height and skill on the basketball floor continued at Fort Dodge Community College.

Chuck proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952 during the Korean Conflict. Once again his basketball skills kept him out of harm’s way as he led the Army’s Far East Championship team. He was stationed in Japan and always remarked that he was pointed at and referred to by the Japanese people as “B-29” which was the only other largest thing they had ever seen!

Upon his discharge from the Army, Chuck moved to Des Moines and resumed his employment with Younkers. It was first in 1946 that the teenage Charles began working at the Younkers store in Fort Dodge. He worked in the “Floor for Homes” section of the store as a salesman of appliances, carpet, and record players. So upon moving to Des Moines he was employed in the new, state-of-the-art Store for Homes downtown. The boss to whom Charles reported daily was the carpet buyer, Mr. Robert Reece who considered Chuck the son he never had. When Reece retired in 1970 he passed along the title of Carpet Buyer which Chuck proudly carried for the next 20 years. Finally, Chuck retired in 1990, ending a 42-year career with Younker Brothers.

His partner in life was his dear wife, Vera J. Dahlstrom, whom he married on October 17, 1954, in Newton, Iowa. They enjoyed many trips abroad thanks to Chuck’s hard work and relished many memories including sipping sangria in Spain, meeting THE Alfredo in Rome, discovering ancestral roots in Ireland, or climbing the heights of the Alps in Switzerland. Most important to them, though, was making a home which they did on Ingersoll Avenue, 41st Street, and Brinkwood Road in Des Moines. They finally parted in 2012 upon Vera’s death while residing in West Des Moines.

Chuck tended beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, often producing tomato plants reaching his own height of 6’4”! He cleverly worked in weeding the yard between softball catches or basketball shots with his 2 children. He enthusiastically cheered them on whether from the sidelines or poolside.

Family meant everything to Chuck and he cared deeply for his extended “Sweeney Clan.” He always wanted to do for and give to others, so as he aged and required more help with daily tasks, he grew to be a patient, and humble, giant.

Chuck passed away peacefully at Kennybrook Village in Grimes, Iowa, on Saturday, April 4, 2015. He rejoins in heaven his wife, Vera; his parents; sisters Arlene (Bob Seger & nephew Jim) and Evelyn (Otto Warford); his brother Edward (Mary & nephew Rick); and most of his best friends. He will be missed deeply by his children, Luanne (Rick Baker, West Des Moines) and Stuart (Mt. Airy, Georgia); grandchildren Lucas and Ryan Baker and Kelly Sweeney; as well as extended family including brothers Ted (Genese) and Ken (Sally) Sweeney along with a host of nieces and nephews.

Inurnment will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. The family wishes to thank the loving caregivers at Kennybrook Village in Grimes and asks that any memorials in Chuck’s honor be directed to the family who will install at Kennybrook a perennial garden for skilled care patients.

Love you, Dad, now and forever.

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