Charles Edward Stern

FITCHBURG - Another member of the early wave of the baby boomers cashed out of this world   of pain and sorrows on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Charles E. Stern was born in Detroit City on May 19, 1948, to Helen Juckem Stern and William J. Stern. Soon after, the family returned to their city of origin, Madison, Wis., in which Charles spent most of his youth. He grew up with both sets of grandparents living in town. Neighborhoods back then were crawling with non-supervised kids, so life was active and carefree.

After attending Queen of Peace Elementary School, he somehow managed to just graduate from Edgewood High School, through no fault of his own. Even more surprising, he graduated from UW-Oshkosh, followed by Antioch Putney Graduate School of Education. At that point he decided that he had some ability to confuse professors, so it was on to Marquette University for law school.

After all those years in school, his wife, Sharon, came to believe it was time for him to bring in some money as by then, two sons had appeared. That ended his formal education. So, it was off to a career trying cases all across Wisconsin, where he litigated cases in 63 out of the 72 counties and two tribal courts in Wisconsin.

His first 10 years of practice was in a law firm with his father, and he became a father for the third time. After the years of private practice, he became Legal Counsel of Wisconsin Mutual Insurance Company. He stayed at the company for 32 years.

He also became active in the trade association of Wisconsin Insurance companies, actually managing to be elected chairman of the association twice, possibly due to most of the other members hanging out in the bar when the voting took place. The best part was that he got to play golf on company time after meetings. Many friends made there continued for life. Thank you, Guys!

Life became a little stranger in the church parking lot at his father's funeral. There, a number of the partners in a business involved in farming of hogs, farming and grain milling, and sales approached with the news he had been elected to replace his father as chairman of the operations. This was unexpected as he was not aware a meeting had taken place and further, he lacked any experience in hog farming or the grain or animal feed business. He was given to understand refusal was not an option. From then on, he didn't have to wonder what he would be doing many nights and weekends for the next 25 years.

When not playing golf on company time or driving all over the state defending lawsuits or worrying about the hog market, he managed to create a collection of antique maps of the Great Lakes and North America. He also created a halfway decent library centered on the Civil War and the American Revolution, as well as European history.

Charles is survived by his wife, Sharon, who managed to tolerate his activities for 56 years; three exceptional sons, Christopher, Carl and Patrick, all of whom prospered exceptionally, in spite of having been dragged in their formative years to every Civil War battle site and uncounted waterfalls at every opportunity! They all have been subjected to endless stories about how John Hay was the greatest American ever. (Don't even ask them about his obsession with Henry Adams!) He is also survived by a wonderful daughter-in-law (literally and figuratively!), Anna, and two grandchildren, Alexandra, the graceful figure skater and amazing teenager and Edward, the gutsy American Ninja Warrior and best hugger ever. He is also survived by his younger sister, Marcia Stern (Sean Morrison); and brothers, William Stern (Margaret) and Robert. His older sister, Carolyn J. Stern, died too young at 40 years old. Also outlasting him are five very special cousins from "down south" who were like another family to him. Four other cousins living "out west," one in New England and one local also survive.

Along with his wife, Sharon, came the whole Daly Clan consisting of six brothers, Robert (Janet), Timothy (deceased), Michael (Mary), Christopher (deceased), Jeffrey (Sonja) and Paul (Jen); a sister, Ellen (Steve) Brickner; and six nieces and five nephews.

Huge thanks to friends who tolerated his poor golfing skills and rants on politics and history. And one (Thank you, Jeanne) from all the way back…in grade school who hung around all these years, Go figure.

A memory about the family, from which he acquired the right DNA - A grandfather (Carl Juckem) worked as an accountant for Forest Products Laboratory at the same time serving as VP of the Randall State Bank. A grandmother (Cora Drengler Stern) not only raised her three sons while also achieving the "Highest Selling Saleslady" award NATIONWIDE in the JC Penney Company from right here in Madison, Wis.! After moving back to Madison after law school, Sharon and Charlie bought a home with enough yard for a garden. During a Sunday family dinner not long after moving back to Madison, he was discussing plans for a garden. That same grandmother, Cora, not one for dreams but more inclined to action, advised he should just go out and start one. So, he started digging the next day and never stopped.

So go out and plant a rose or a pansy or an oak tree. And you can always read Henry Adams during the nasty cold Wisconsin winters.

A celebration of life will be held at MOXY MADISON DOWNTOWN, 823 East Washington Ave., Madison, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Memorials may be made to the U.W. Carbone Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic Foundation for Medical Education and Research or Agrace HospiceCare.

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

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral and Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002