Charles E Bader

OREGON - Charles E. “Chuck” Bader, age 74, of Oregon, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. He was born on Feb. 3, 1949, in Green Bay, the son of Edward and LaDoris (Lesselyoung) Bader.

As a child Chuck and his family moved around with his father's work, then finally made their home in Massapequa Park, N.Y. He graduated from Massapequa High School with the class of 1967.  In 1974, he received his bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison majoring in Psychology and Communication Arts. He furthered his education at Lakeland College in 1985, receiving his B.B.A. degree in Business Administration.  

While attending UW-Madison, Chuck enjoyed working as a schedule director at WHA TV.  In his Communication Art’s class, his teacher’s assistant, Jim Abrahams, a well-known director and co-founder of Kentucky Fried Theater in Madison, asked Chuck to do camera work.  Chuck was also a DJ at WLHA, the UW-Madison student radio from 1967-1977. His call name was Charlie Browne.  He was the DJ for many "sock hops" on the UW-Madison campus and was proud to be part of the largest sock hop at the Great Hall in the Memorial Union in 1973.

In September of 1974 Chuck met the love of his life, Suzanne Boerke, while attending the first Nebraska vs. Badgers football game.  They were married on Sept 10, 1977.

Chuck maintained his amateur radio license from 1963 until his unexpected passing.  Chuck built his first amateur radio in 1963, at the age of 14.  He worked for the State of Wisconsin at the Department of Revenue, and later transferred to the Department of Public Instruction and then to UW-Madison in the ADP, now known as DoIT. He eventually retired from Cap Gemini Consulting in 2000.

Chuck enjoyed cooking and his friends will remember him for his famous chili.  He also enjoyed watching movies, especially his favorite, “Singing in the Rain!”  Chuck liked listening to all types of music and had the perfect song for any event.  As a young man he traveled to Hawaii, and later with Suzanne to Iceland, as well as many national parks in the west, then to Idaho and New York where he loved spending time with family. He enjoyed photography, with one of his treasured photos being an active volcano in Hawaii.  Chuck and Suzanne blended their passions between Badgers football and hockey.  They were avid fans and season ticket holders for over 20 years.

Charles is survived by his wife, Suzanne; sisters, Julie Bader and Lenise Bader; niece, Rachel Losito; nephews, Matthew (Clarissa) Losito, James (Jennifer) Schneider and Jonathan Schneider; and uncles, Bernie Schmitt and G. Keith Lesselyoung.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Karen, Claire and Carol Bader; brother-in-law, Tom Schneider; aunts, Margaret Schmitt and Mary Geohegan; uncles, Jack, Shea, Martin, and Tom Bader, and Don Ick.

In keeping with Chuck's wishes, no services will be held.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Oregon
Funeral & Cremation Care
1150 Park St.
(608) 835-3515