Obituary of Charles Henry August Reise

Charles “Charlie” Henry August Reise, 94 passed away Tuesday July 18, 2023 at Colby Senior Care in Colby, WI.

Charlie was born March 2, 1929 to Herman and Sophia (Busche) Reise in Rock County in the city of Janesville, WI.

The family moved to a farm in Unity, WI where Charlie grew up. He attended area schools at Colby & Unity graduating from Colby High School in 1946. Charlie loved playing high school basketball and baseball and many times relived those happy memories with stories of that time.

Charlie met Rita Gerl of Stratford, WI at a dance at The Silver Dome Ballroom in Neillsville, WI. He liked to remember the dance where he met her and “their song”, “The Blue Skirt Waltz”. On July 15, 1950 Charlie and Rita were united in Holy Matrimony at St. Joseph’s Church in Stratford, WI.

Charlie and Rita owned and operated a dairy farm in the Unity area. Together they raised a family of 3 boys and 5 girls. In 2006 Charlie was reunited with a daughter from a previous relationship. Rita would have loved her and welcomed her into the family just as the whole family did.

Through the years Charlie also worked at Mandel’s Cheese Factory, Johson’s Sawmill, and drove bus for many years for the Colby school district. In 1970 Charlie and Rita bought the Corner Bar and Cafe in Unity, a business they operated even as Charlie continued to drive bus and do a milk inspection route. Charlie also drove a fuel truck for 17 years for Harmony Coop in Colby, WI.

Charlie and Rita were long term members of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. On February 22, 1997 Rita died of pancreatic cancer.

In 1998, Charlie married Audree Hederer. The marriage later dissolved in divorce.

Charlie lived in Spencer, WI for 8 years where he continued to drive bus, first for Burnett’s Transportation and later shuttle bus for the Marshfield Clinic as an employee of Marshfield Bus Service. Charlie met many interesting people during his years of driving bus and prided himself on serving others. He ended his bus driving career at the age of 88 with a spotless safety record.

On May 30, 2015 Charlie and Orvillla Makovec were married St. John’s Catholic Church in Marshfield, WI. Theirs was a relationship built on faith, love of family and love of one another.

Charlie and Orvilla lived first in Marshfield, WI and later moved to Colby where they resided until the time of his death. She survives.

Charlie had a list of priorities in his life. First was his deep-rooted love of his Catholic Faith and then for his family. He loved building and selling bird houses and making barns for his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He spent many happy hours hunting, fishing and telling stories about his many adventures. He also loved watching the Packers and the Brewers.

Charlie was a man who lived as he died, professing his faith and love of it as well as his love of family. He taught always what he did best, the art of forgiveness. He will be deeply missed by those who he loved and those who loved him back just as fiercely.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 8 years, Orvillla, children, Kathy (Duane) Bowe, Chippewa Falls, Roger (Deborah) Reise, Unity, Marilyn (Ron) Brost, Medford, Judy (Allen) Novacek, Lakeville, MN, Susan (Allen) Hubing, Medford, Leanne (Ron) Leonhard, Medford, Marie (Bob) Kauffman, Medford and Chris Reise, Marshfield and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. Further surviving are stepchildren Gerard (Barbara) Makovec, Fontana, WI, Thomas (Peggy) Makovec, Stratford, WI, Stephen (Lew Hann) Makovec, Centerville, OH, Mary (Verlyn) Schalow, Marshfield, WI, Ivan (JoAnn) Makovec, Spring Lake Park, MN, Therese (Thomas) Kaletka, Belle Plaine, MN, Eugene (Diane) Makovec, Foley, MO and Agnes Makovec, Memphis, TN.

Charlie was predeceased by his wife Rita, his son Brian, as well as his parents, his brother Leonard Riese and his sister Pearl Beightol and a grandson Mark Baumgarten.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday July 27, 2023, at Saint Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Colby, WI. Visitation will begin at 11:00AM in the church with Mass to follow at 1:00PM Pallbearers will be grandsons, Travis Schmitt, Michael and Matthew Baumgarten, Justin and Dallas Kauffman and Aaron Reise. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Scott Pupp, Scott and Troy Leonhard and Patrick and Todd Bowe.

Memorials may be made to Taylor House of Medford, a homeless shelter in Medford, WI, Trinity Lutheran Food Pantry in Unity, WI and Abiding Care, a center providing pregnancy help to women in the Medford, WI area.