BEAVER DAM--Charles E. Reetz, age 80, passed away peacefully at home in hospice in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. Chuck was born in Sparta, on March 5, 1937, the eldest of five children of Irvin and Helen (Clements) Reetz. He graduated from Aquinas High School in La Crosse in 1955 and served in the 46 ^th Medical Battalion of the United States Army from 1960-1962. Chuck was a quiet soul with a big heart. He was best known for operating taverns and bowling alleys, including the Farmer's Inn (later Our Place) and Red Bud Bowl both in Columbus, and Spartan Lanes in Sparta. He finished out his working years at Fall River Foundry in Fall River, and spent his retirement between Beaver Dam and his cabin near Friendship. His favorite past times included any and all Wisconsin college and professional sports, watching his family bowl, spending quiet time in the presence of loved ones, window watching birds and animals at the cabin, sitting by the camp fire, reading (or napping) in his chair, and collecting coins. He fostered a love for nature in his children through camping, fishing, hunting, and time at the cabin. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren's hard work and achievements. While in hospice, he remarked on his pride in his children, "I even amazed myself." Although a man of few words, he never failed to let his loved ones know how much they meant to him. He will be lovingly remembered by his mother Helen Reetz of Waukesha; two sisters Marlene (Jerry) Becker of Deerfield, IL, and Joey Reetz Anderson of Sarasota FL; one brother Bernard Reetz of Waukesha; five children Janna (Stuart) Mason of Pewaukee, Carrie (Habib) Zaatar of Farmington Hills, MI, Nathan (Sarah) Reetz of Bangor, Elizabeth Reetz of Iowa City, IA, and Nicholas (Joleen) Reetz of West Salem; 15 grandchildren Jonathan Mason, Trevor Mason, Nicholas Mason, Spencer Mason, Summer Mason, Sadie Mason, Emily Zaatar, Moussa Zaatar, Noah Zaatar, Brayden Reetz, Holton Reetz, Keaton Reetz, Aeryonna Reetz, Ethan Reetz, Eli Reetz, one great-grandson Monty Mason, numerous nieces and nephews, and his loving friends Kitty Ford and Arleen Krueger and family who cared for him in hospice. He was preceded in death by his father; a brother Phillip, brother-in-law Charlie Anderson and sister-in-law Betty Monroe Reetz. A memorial service was held at 2:00 P.M., with visitation beginning at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the JENSEN FUNERAL & CREMATION, Columbus. Rev. Mark Miller officiated. Full military honors followed. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Chuck can be sent to the American Legion (Department of Wisconsin) and the American Cancer Society Wisconsin.