Charles Struckhoff

Charles Aloysious Struckhoff of Colby, Kansas passed away in the comfort of his home on April 20, 2015. Charles entered into life on Febuary 26, 1927. He was the fourth child born to Regina Ann (Ballman) and Aloysious August Struckhoff in Grinnell, Kansas and baptized at Immaculate Conception Church, Grinnell, Kansas. He graduated from Grinnell High School in1945. Charles choose to forgo commencement exercises to join the US Navy. After being discharged from the Navy he returned state side and was to employed by Struckhoff Brother's Garage in Grinnell, Ks. The business was owned by his father and an uncle, Herman Struckhoff. On July 29, of 1952, he married his first wife Beatrice Mary Beckman. They're first child, Mark Charles was born while the couple resided in Grinnell. After the family to Goodland, Ks they added a second child, Mary Beth The move to Goodland was to facilitate the opening of their new business S & H Drilling. Family, the new business, baseball, boating, flying, and mostly, golf kept him busy through 1980. 1981 saw Charles employed with Alsay-Texas Corporation of Houson, Texas. This company provided international water well drilling services. While employed with Alsay-Texas, Charles became President of Alsay- Pippin, a division providing services overseas. While in the Houston area Charles also led up off shore water well drilling and was one of a few men left on the derrick during an exceptionally damaging fire. He said, "Things got a little serious there for awhile." Charles was also to live in Pensacola, Florida while employed with this corporation. Charles never missed a chance to sharpen his golf skills during this time either! While living in Pensacola he married his second wife, Carol Nadine (Selby) McGinley. This union added three adult children, DeAnn, Bill and Jim to his family. And he continued golfing. 1988 saw the return of Charles and family to Kansas. Yearning to return to the area where he was born and raised, Charles accepted a position with Western Sprinkler located in Colby, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his wife Nadine during this time and the guys at Western Sprinkler became family. They were to add a great deal of comfort and support during the last 6 months of his life. He remained employed with Western Sprinkler until he passed away. And, of course, returning to Kansas, meant more golf on the open plains. During his lifetime Charles became a lifetime member of BPOElks #1528, Goodland, Ks. and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2864, Grinnell, Kansas. He was active in The Kansas Ground Water Association throughout his residencies in Kansas. He served as Secretary/Treasurer 1958-1960, Vice President 1961-62 and President in 1965. He was to attend his last convention in 2014. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. Charles is survived by a daughter, Mary Beth (Keith) Zweygardt of Saint Francis, Ks., two grandsons, Kaleb Zwick, Saint Francis and Oskar Aloysious Okeson along with his parents Eric and Leslie Okeson and daughter Arianna all of Weskan, Ks., four step-grandsons, Dillan (Christi) Zweygardt, Manhattan, Ks., Drew Zweygardt, Ty Zweygardt and Brock Zweygardt all of Saint Francis, Ks. A step-daughter DeAnn (Curt) Rose, Emporia, Ks., two step-sons, William McGinley and James McGinley, both of Salina, Ks., a step-granddaughter, Amanda (Jeremy ) Dow, Topeka, Ks., a step-grandson, Justin Rose, Emporia, Ks., a step-great grandson, Maverick Dow. Topeka, Ks., who is expecting a sibling at any moment. Two sisters, Berniece Hansen, Grinnell, Ks. and Rita Hitt, Pratt, Ks., one brother, Kenneth Struckhoff, Grinnell, Ks and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great- nieces and nephews. Charles was preceded in death by his 2nd wife Nadine, a son Mark Charles Struckhoff, his parents Regina and A.A. Struckhoff, his sisters Alfrieda (Fritz) Ostmeyer and Sister Kenneth (Esther Marie) Struckhoff, and brothers Fred Struckhoff and Ray Struckhoff. Visitation will be from 2-8 pm with Rosary at 7pm, Thursday, April 23rd, Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel, 745 S. Country Club Drive, Colby, Ks. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 24th 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby, Ks. Interment will follow immediately in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Colby, Ks. The family requests memorials to Hospice Services, Inc.