Obituary of Charles Louis Bochert

Bochert, Charles Louis, Jr. aged 97, died peacefully in his sleep, attended by loving family, on January 27, 2015, at his residence in Friendship Village in Bloomington, MN. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Kathryn "Kate" Bochert, whom Charles called "Dickie." Charles was born in New York, NY, on October 27, 1917. He graduated from Harvard and served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Soon after marrying Kathryn Schwefler, the love of his long life, on June 7, 1941, they began their own family in Basking Ridge, NJ. Charles' work with the Prudential Insurance Company led to a relocation to Minneapolis, MN, in 1957, where the fifth of their five children was born (Michael Louis, Linda Hughes, Peter Wagner, Kathy Anne, and Barbara Jean). Charles loved his job as Director of Public Relations, Advertising, and Media Relations with the "Pru" and retired happily in 1980. Throughout his life, Charles deeply enjoyed the arts, sports, friends, and family. He had a large library, loved word games and funny stories, entertained family and guests with a diverse record collection of classical music and show tunes, and played bridge, golf and tennis into his 90's. And all of this living, talking, playing, and laughing was done in the company of his loving wife Kate. As a couple they shared an incomparable bond: to see them walk down a hallway holding hands, or sit with them in the soft light of their "situation" room with classical music playing behind their thoughtful discussions and playful banter, was to witness the strength, devotion, gentle camaraderie, and quiet grace of true love. Charles is survived by his wife Kate and: son Michael Bochert, his wife Kay Bochert and their daughters Sharon Bochert Grady (husband Dan Grady) and Michelle "Shelli" Bochert (husband Tom Peterson); daughter Linda Bochert, her husband Dave Hanson and their son Scott Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson; son Peter Bochert, his wife Wendy Jones and their sons James and Michael Bochert; daughter Kathy Bochert, her husband John Matheson and their sons Max and Peter Matheson; daughter Barbara Nicol, her husband Steve Nicol and their daughter Marissa Nicol; and nieces Kathryn Davis and Anne Davis. Charles was preceded in death by his parents Charles Louis Bochert in 1980 and Gladys Alicia Bochert in 1986. The family sends a special thank you to Dr. Mark Fallen whom Charles claimed "kept him alive for 20+ years", to the compassionate and caring staff at Friendship Village who were always there and always helping and always thoughtful, and nurse practitioner Melody Angell who was absolutely everything her name implies. Cremation has taken place and a private service held at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel. Memorials may be made to Planned Parenthood or Second Harvest.