Charles L. Spitler

Charles "Chuck" Spitler, 74, passed away on July 19, 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Born on October 15, 1951 to Merle and Guy Spitler, Chuck grew up on a family farm in Adair, Iowa and graduated from Adair-Casey High School where he excelled in track and field and played electric guitar in a psychedelic rock band. Following high school, he moved to Des Moines to attend vocational school, launching a 40-year career in industrial engineering.

While Chuck held a lifelong appreciation for science and engineering, his greatest devotion was always to his family. On New Year’s Eve in 1970, he attended a party where he met Mary, the love of his life and his wife of 53 years. Together they raised three daughters, each inheriting a unique piece of his spirit: Laura, who shared his deep love of astronomy and music; Kathryn, who carried forward his kindness and optimism; and Samantha, who embraced his sharp sense of humor and resourcefulness. Chuck was also blessed with three beloved granddaughters: Elinor, Zoey, and Evelyn.

Beyond his family and career, Chuck was a master artisan. An avid woodcarver, he was a dedicated member and leader within the Mid-Iowa Woodcarvers group. His exceptional skill earned him numerous ribbons at the Iowa State Fair where he spent decades demonstrating his craft and sharing his passion with the community. In fact, for a lot of people, when you think of Chuck you think of the classic lyrics to “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Being a wood carver of over thirty years, Chuck could chuck a lot of wood! He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the many lives he touched through his art.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Mary (Gullion) Spitler; his three daughters, Laura Spitler (Stefan Hochgurtel), Kathryn “Katie” Spitler (Caleb Pearson), and Samantha “Sam” Spitler; three granddaughters, Elinor, Zoey, and Evelyn; his cat, Kittypuppy; his dog, Jake; and granddog, Floki.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Merle (Parsons) Spitler; brother, Fred Spitler; sister, Phyllis (Spitler) Williams; and his dogs, Einstein, Sasha, Shakespear and Lily; cats, Kousy and Babycat; and granddog, Seamus.

A Celebration of Life visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 8, 2026 at Confluence Brewing Company, 1235 Thomas Beck Road in Des Moines, Iowa 50315

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given directly to Chuck’s immediate family members in loving memory of Chuck.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print