Dr. Charles Edward Nahn Jr.

Dr. Charles Edward Nahn, Jr , 91, departed our physical world peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2025. Born on September 10, 1933 in Dayton, Ohio, he was the second child and only son of Charles E Nahn, Sr. and Mary Nahn. After a childhood spent sailing, horseback riding, and causing mischief, Charlie graduated from the University of Dayton in 1955, just before marrying the love of his life, Anne E Kramer, who he would remain devoted to until her death in 2019. Charlie attended medical school at Marquette and graduated in 1959, enlisting in the Air Force as a physician shortly after. The Air Force took his growing family to bases far and wide, including Grand Rapids, MI, Cape Canaveral, FL (and met John Glenn), the Presidio in San Francisco, CA, San Antonio, TX, and Bitburg, Germany. Charles and Anne had at least one child in most of those cities, and dozens of adventures. After 10 years of service that saw him rise to the rank of Major and treat the King of Libya, he chose Madison, WI as a new home base for his 8 children.

Charlie was amongst the early cohort of doctors at Dean Clinic, and was a founding member of its ophthalmology department. His career there and at St. Mary's Hospital spanned nearly 30 years. He was a quiet, caring, and skilled surgeon, known for his quick wit, his moped, and his tobacco pipe.

While Charlie’s skills as a physician were outstanding, his other “jobs” were more remarkable. He could be counted upon to be steady as a rock for his family, to follow his wife around six continents, to be talked into such dangerous feats as bungee jumping or open water sailing, to tinker with broken or not yet broken devices, to build anything out of wood, and to serve as resident jokester, chief cook, cleaner and grandkid babysitter upon retirement and a compassionate caretaker after Anne suffered a stroke in 2014.

Charlie was generous beyond measure. His less-than-designer wardrobe and beat-up car demonstrated how little he gave to himself. Family trips to Florida or ski towns were a highlight of growing up Nahn, or even not Nahn, as Charlie welcomed and fed any friends of his kids who tagged along. “More the Merrier” and “Friends are Family” were well used mottos for Charlie and Anne as they entertained so many.

Charlie was most at peace on the water, either at his home on Lake Mendota or in a far-away location with Anne and friends. Even better if he were on a sailboat, but a motorboat for the grandkids and an ice boat for speedy adventures were added to the flotilla in later years. In the off season, he could be found hitting the slopes with Anne or collecting frequent flyer miles. Charlie was a voracious reader and possessed a beautiful singing voice, which he kept hidden apart from a Children’s Theatre stint as the King of Hearts. He dabbled in bridge and golf, and rarely missed a daily crossword puzzle. He loved his dogs more than most and also fed them more than most. Though his final few years were challenged by memory loss, the spark in his bright blue eyes never faded when his family was around.

Charles is survived by his children, Charles E (Anne) Nahn III of Middleton, Dr. Trish (Jim Lease) Nahn of Janesville, William J (Shanie Bankson) Nahn of Fountain Hills, AZ, Gregory A (Dineen Seymour) Nahn of Madison, Dr. Steven C (Jen) Nahn of Batavia, IL, and Anne Marie (Michael Bell) Nahn Bell of Madison and son-in-law Robert Dimperio (Sue Hughes) of Lake Mills. He is further survived by his 18 grandchildren, Rory Dimperio, Giovanna (Robb) Couey, Allegra Dimperio, Sarah (Mike) Zwaska, Dr. Jeffrey Nahn, Katherine (Davis) Wallace, Abigail and Samantha Schaefer, Skylar and Finley Nahn, Caden Seymour Nahn, Gabriel and Adam Nahn, Allison, Nicolas, Jack and Sophia Bell, and 4 great grandchildren, Jack and Eleanor Zwaska and Wesley and Eloise Wallace. He is also survived by sisters Carolyn Roderer and Judy (Rick) Matteis and sister-in-law Greta Kramer. He is welcomed upon his departure from this world by his wife Anne E (Kramer) Nahn, daughters Mari and Julie Nahn, granddaughter Natalie Schaefer, and his parents. He is further greeted by a host of in-laws.

The family would like to thank the staff at Homestead Living, whose care and respect for Charlie allowed him to live out his days with the happiness and dignity he deserved. We would also like to thank Agrace Hospice for assisting in a peaceful passing.

Please join the family for a Celebration of Charlie’s life on Saturday, April 19th at 2:30- 6 pm at Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562. Friends can gather starting at 2:30, Remembrance ceremony to be held at 3:30, with refreshments to follow until 6 pm. 

Donations to honor Charlie’s life can be made to either Combat Blindness International at combatblindness.org, or Clean Lakes, Inc. at cleanlakesalliance.org.

Dad, we are grateful for your living and now celebrate your reunion with so many. We will look to the water and the skies to feel your love and witness your beautiful legacy.

Please share your memories of Charlie by posting here on his Tribute Wall.

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