Charles "Chuck" Eugene Lemieux, Sr.

Chuck was born January 15, 1938 to Amos and Elizabeth O’Brien Lemieux in Pierre, South Dakota.  One of nine children, Chuck had three brothers: Thomas, Phillip, and Ambrose, along with five sisters: Nancy, Cecilia, Mary, Marcella, and Margaret.

He grew up on the family homestead near the towns of Van Meter and Murdo, SD.  Chuck went to school up to the eighth grade before the need for him to be on the farm became too great to continue.  At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Navy.  He served on the USS Cotton, USS English, USS Saratoga, and did two tours of duty on the USS Shenandoah.  He also served in San Diego as a recruit trainer.

He was married to Gloria Sue Ball on March 18, 1961 in Pikeville, KY.  Throughout his career in the Navy, they made their home across the country, living in Norfolk and Chesapeake, VA, San Diego, CA, Jacksonville, FL, and for a short time in New Jersey for Chuck’s training.  The couple had three sons: Charles Eugene Lemieux, JR, Michael Keith Lemieux, and Matthew Joel Lemieux.

In 1971, Chuck and Sue, along with their family joined the Ft. Carolina Christian Church in Jacksonville, FL, where they were baptized.  In Chesapeake Virginia he attended Laurel Avenue Church of Christ.  He was a member of the First Christian Church from 1974 until his death, where he served in the roles of Elder, Deacon, and Sunday school teacher.

After a twenty year career in the Navy, Chuck retired with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, BRCS.  Upon retirement, Chuck, Sue, and family joined Sue’s Brother, Roy Ball, JR and his family in a move to Forgan, Oklahoma where Roy was to be Pastor.  The move was a strange one for a family who had lived along the coast during Chuck’s career.  However, Chuck adapted well to the small town of Forgan, eager to have a place that felt like home.  Jobs initially were hard to come by for a retired sailor.  He worked various jobs after moving to Forgan, including serving as a bulldozer operator for Hardberger and Smylie, an assistant with Ozzie’s Electric, and a service attendant for Miller’s APCO Station, until taking ownership of Forgan Water Well Service.  After a number of years and falling on financial difficulty, he lost his business in the water well industry and eventually became the Utilities Superintendant for the Town of Forgan, where he worked until his death.

In addition to working for the Town of Forgan, Chuck was a volunteer fireman for over twenty years and trained as an EMT at the age of sixty.  Chuck enjoyed serving with the Forgan Volunteer Fire Department and it was that work which pushed him further into community service with the Beaver County EMS.  He served seventeen years with the Beaver County EMS until being forced to retire due to health at the age of seventy-seven.

Chuck liked to be involved.  He loved sports in general and served as a Little League Coach for two years in Chesapeake, VA where he had one championship team.  In Forgan, he coached baseball and helped with the management of the summer youth baseball program for several years.  He was a long term Bulldogs Booster.  He ran chains for football games for a number of years.  He loved to see his kids and his grandchildren play, but even when he had no family playing Chuck supported the Bulldogs with his attendance.

As the Utilities Superintendent   in Forgan, part of his job was to work with inmates from the Beaver County Correctional Facility.  Chuck often developed an encouraging and training relationship with “his guys.”  If he didn’t like what they were doing, he let them know.  He always tried to treat them like he would anyone else, and many of them visited him or sent notes of thanks through the years.  Chuck wanted them to be able to work and he exposed them to many different jobs, including operating and repairing equipment, and community service at special events.  He enjoyed helping to redirect their lives.

Chuck loved Forgan.  He supported the Forgan athletic teams and he enjoyed being part of the community.  He was a Bulldog, and he was known to heckle a referee or harass his opponents from time to time.  He eagerly helped maintain the friendly rivalry with Beaver, getting a stab in every chance he got.  Always eager to offer his two-cents, he didn’t wait for others to make up his mind.  He had his opinions and he stuck to them.  Yet, even those with whom he disagreed were considered friends.  His gruff exterior could sometimes shield the old-softy inside.  Chuck spent twenty years serving his country in the military, but he gave Forgan his life.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Amos and Elizabeth Lemieux; his brother, Thomas Lemieux; his sister, Marcella Lemieux; his father-in-law, Roy Ball; his mother-in-law, Edna Ball; and his brother-in-law, Roy Ball, JR.

Charles (Chuck) Eugene Lemieux, SR., 78, of Forgan, OK died October 13, 2016 at Beaver County Memorial Hospital.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Sue of Forgan; a sister, Nancy Shuetz and her husband Virgil of Loveland, CO; a sister, Cecilia Newsam of Murdo, SD; a sister, Mary Eberly of Aberdeen, SD; a brother, Phillip Lemieux and his wife Judy of Spearfish, SD ; a brother, Ambrose Lemieux of Pierre, SD; a sister, Margaret Dayton of Bokeelia, FL; three sons, Charles Eugene Lemieux, JR and his wife Julie of Forgan; Michael Keith Lemieux and his wife Michelle of Blanchard; Matthew Joel Lemieux, also of Forgan; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to local community or area organizations.

The family wishes to thank the members of the Beaver County EMS and the medical staff at Beaver County Memorial Hospital for your dedicated effort and care.  Please know that Chuck loved you all and enjoyed working with you immensely.