Charles George "Chuck" Steurer, BHS 1942

Charles George "Chuck" Steurer, BHS 1942

Chester resident Charles George "Chuck" Steurer peacefully passed from this life with his wife at his side Monday morning, December 10th, 2012 at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, CA at the age of 88.

Born September 11, 1924 in Los Angeles, CA to the late Charles Jacob and Viola Vesta (Chadwick) Steurer he was raised and educated in Southern California graduating from Burbank High School as a member of the "Class of 1942". He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 after obtaining his parents permission and was trained in electrical hydraulics. Assigned to the USS Williamson a destroyer that had no hydraulics he served as a gunners mate in the Asian and South Pacific taking part in the battles of Esperitos Santos, The New Hubertus and Guam.

Upon his honorable discharge he returned home and enrolled in Glendale Junior College where he obtained a degree in Structural Engineering. He soon began what became a forty five year career as a building contractor and commercial lath and plasterer, retiring in 1986.

In 1947 Chuck married Pat Palstine and to this union a son and daughter were born.

Chuck was an accomplished trap shooter who was a member of the Pacific Trap Shooting Association as well as Valencia, CA area trap clubs and was a charter member of the Antelope Gun Club of Quartz Hill, CA. He maintained a top ten position amongst his competitors. Following the death of Chuck's second wife, Nancy Barnett he took up upland game bird hunting especially hunting Chucker, Quail, Pheasants and Dove in Mexico with his ever faithful bird dogs as well as continuing his life long passion of fishing the streams and rivers of California.

At this time he also took up the sport of bowling and it is through this that Chuck met his sweetheart, Carolyn. The couple was united in matrimony in October of 1983 and the couple relocated to the Northeastern California community of Chester on Easter Sunday 1987.

Raised as a Master Mason in April of 1989 as a member of the Westwood Lodge #501 he went on to join the Lake Almanor Shrine Club where he served as President from 1993-1994 and was honored with the Shrine Medal of Honor in 1995. He served as Double Eagle Scottish Rite Club President in 1997, was Raban of the Dogtown Hillbilly Clan #114 in 2006 served as Worthy Patron of the Westwood Chapter #366 Order of Eastern Star from1999, 2001 and 2002, and also served as Worthy Patron of the Sincerity Chapter #53 of the Order of Eastern Star in 2007 and 2008. The Mason's highest honor, that of the Hiram Award was bestowed upon Chuck as a member of the Greenville Sincerity Lodge #132.

Chucks other affiliations include his membership in the Harry Doble American Legion Post #664 of Chester, the Chester-Lake Almanor Senior Citizens Club, the Lassen Shrine Club, the Chester Elks Lodge #2626, the Feather River Shrine Club and the Feather River Scottish Rite Club.

In passing Chuck leaves his loving wife; Carolyn of Chester, CA, daughter; Susan and her husband Jerry Sledge of Hidden Valley Lake, CA, son; Mark Steurer of Santa Cruz, CA, grandsons; Jesse Sledge of Santa Rosa, CA and Justin Sledge and his wife, Jessica and his great grandchildren Audrey, Mia and Madison Sledge all of Camano Island WA. He is also survived by a brother; Earl Steurer and his wife Ruth of Granada Hills, CA, step children; Sally Barnett of Santa Maria, CA, Rob Worthington of Klamath Falls, OR, Lisa and husband Fernando Lopez of Simi Valley, CA, Kimberly and husband Rusty Mays of Huntersville, NC and step grandchildren Chris Lopez of Davis, CA and Vanessa Lopez of Simi Valley, CA.

Masonic memorial services will take place 11:00AM Saturday, December 15th, 2012 at the Greenville Masonic Lodge of Sincerity Chapter #132 of the Free and Accepted Masons. Private inurnment will take place in the Chester District Cemetery. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com. Any remembrances of Chuck can be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital of Sacramento c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory P.O. Box 803 Greenville, CA 95947.