Charles "Chuck" Friedli

Stoughton – Charles F. “Chuck” Friedli, age 90, passed away on Friday May 21, 2021 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg surrounded by his loving family.  Chuck was the first-born child of Charles and Lillian Hildreth Friedli, he was born on March 16, 1931 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.  He married Eleanor Byers on November 2, 1957 in Madison.  Chuck worked for many years for the State of Wisconsin for Mendota Hospital.

Chuck graduated from Gratiot High School in 1951. Married Ramona Holverson in February    1952. He farmed briefly before moving to Blue Mounds, WI where he owned and operated a small restaurant.

After Ramona’s passing in early 1956, Chuck married Eleanor Byers Siker in late 1957. Chuck and Ellie’s blended family continued to grow and flourish on Nancy Ln. in Madison Wisconsin. In 1973 the family moved to rural Cottage Grove where they remained until the nest was empty. After retirement, Chuck and Ellie moved to Boscobel for 10 years before returning to Stoughton, WI in 2001 where Ellie resides today.

Chuck was blessed with the tinker gene and could make or fix just about anything. Chuck enjoyed woodworking and handicrafts. He loved gardening with Ellie, feeding and watching birds in the garden, yard work, improving/remodeling their homes, camping with his family, cooking over an open fire, and whiling away the evening hours around a good campfire. He was a short order cook for a time in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. where he especially enjoyed cooking breakfast.

Chuck loved a good joke and was a bit of a prankster. Goofy handshakes were one of his trademarks. His grandchildren were amused by his clownish antics.

In his retirement he traveled the U.S. extensively with Ellie camping as they went. Chuck and Ellie enjoyed volunteering their time and services to various organizations prior to and during retirement. Chuck was a great listener and showed an immense level of empathy and compassion towards family, friends and acquaintances which served him well during his 33 years in the field of mental health care for Mendota Hospital.

Chuck loved life and had the good fortune to have a good long run at it. It cannot be disputed that the world was a better place for having had Charles Frederick Friedli in it.

Chuck is survived by his wife Eleanor; his children David (Marie) Friedli, Roselyn (Dean) Sinnett, Claire (Debbie) Friedli, Robert (Wanda) Francomb, Ricky Friedli (Chris Beam), Steven Friedli, and Michael (Sherry) Friedli; 9 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; siblings John (Ruth) Friedli, Sonia Hustad, James (Sandy) Friedli and Kathleen (Dean) Lehmann; and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife Ramona, grandson Jeremy Friedli, and sister Mary Scott.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday May 28, 2021 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 206 W. Prospect St. Stoughton with Rev Jerry Amstutz presiding.  Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the service at the funeral home on Friday.  Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

206 W. Prospect  Stoughton

(608) 873-9244