Charles Gould

Charles Roger Gould was born July 1, 1923, to Nathan B. Gould and Agnes Tweet in Fostoria, Iowa. He spent his childhood on their farm east of town and later moved to a farm southwest of Milford. Charles attended Okoboji Consolidated High School and graduated in 1941. On February 2, 1947, Charles married Charlotte Jespersen from Royal, Iowa, and together they had two children, Mark and Lynne. In the early years of their marriage, Charles worked for the Fostoria Creamery, drove a rural bread route, and later did farm work and raised hogs on an acreage west of Fostoria. Charles then managed a fertilizer plant in Fostoria until his retirement, and since 1978, he and Charlotte lived in Milford. In his early adulthood, Charles was catcher on the high school baseball team; he cherished the memories of his teammates and their trip to the State Tournament. Later he played on the Fostoria town team. He also liked horses and always had a horse as a youth. Charles enjoyed fishing, owned a fishing boat, and made a yearly fishing trip to northern Minnesota with his mother, siblings, and friends. "Charlie" will be most remembered for his extraordinary sense of humor. He was a very social person who had a joke or story for anyone he met. He enjoyed regular visits at the "Fostoria Mall" (aka Cenex) for a time of lighthearted verbal sparring and daily news catch-up. A true packrat, he loved to tinker in his garage and created many mechanical inventions, often involving duct tape and recycled treasures. Charles lived one day at a time and didn't worry about tomorrow. He was a wonderful husband and father who brought laughter into the dark times of life. He loved spending time with his family and delighted in seeing his grandchildren and great-grandsons. Charles is survived by his wife, Charlotte; his son Mark and his wife, Mary, of Taos, New Mexico; his daughter Lynne; grandchildren, Eva Derner and Isaac Derner; great-grandsons John Edward and William Charles, all of Milford; brothers, Duane and Harlan Gould and sister, Marjorie Ann Brueggeman of Lake Park. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald and Nathan Jr.; sister, Norma Jean Yadauga; and an infant brother. There was only one Charlie - he was loved by all and will be missed by all.