Charles Buehler

Buehler, Charles Allen

Chuck Buehler has left us at the age of 87. He had a wonderful life filled with love, friendship, hard work, adventure, and travel. Born February 5, 1937, the proud second oldest of 9 in Racine, Wisconsin, Chuck loved basketball, chemistry, and playing the drums. He met his first wife, Millie Kennedy, in Racine in 1957, as he was finishing college in St. Paul, MN at the University of St. Thomas. They were married in 1959, upon his graduation with a BS in Chemistry, and moved to E. Lansing, MI so he could pursue his Ph.D. in Chemistry. There, Chuck, and Millie welcomed their three daughters, Angela, Suzanne (Sue) and Theresa (Traci).

Chuck accepted a job as a senior chemist at 3M and the family moved to North St. Paul, MN in 1963 and built their first home a few years later. Always active in his community, Chuck was a volunteer police commissioner, active member of the Jaycees, and Councilman of No. St. Paul, nearly rounding out 2 terms. He resigned a year early when he was promoted to technical director at 3M, one of the youngest to achieve that role at just 36 years of age. Having moved the family down the hill to a 10-acre property, Chuck managed a full and rewarding career while creating an oasis for the family that included horses, dogs, wooded trails, snowmobiling, fruit trees, grapevines, playing the drums, Friday night family gatherings, Saturday morning family chores, and Sunday church followed by his specialty, "Buehler" breakfast on the grill.

As the years progressed, Chuck's career at 3M flourished. Now empty-nesters, Chuck and Millie had the opportunity to move to Dusseldorf, Germany to open 3M EuroLab. From 1983-1989, what a time they had - traveling all over Europe, making new friends, living a European lifestyle - life was grand! Chuck's favorite destination at that time was the South of France. The friendships they made lasted a lifetime. Returning to the States in 1989 to live in Stillwater, Chuck continued working at 3M until his retirement in 1994 after 31 years. He and Millie continued to travel, kept a small apartment in Germany and a home in Stillwater, and spent time with their daughters and grandkids, enjoying retirement together. Tragically, Mille died in 1997 after a very short battle with cancer.

But Chuck was blessed to find love a second time. He reunited with a former 3M Germany work colleague, Ute Schmalenbach, and thus began his next adventure. They married in 1999 and have had 25+ years together. Ute and Chuck continued their travels, by RV all across the US, to Puerto Vallarta every year for 15 years, and travels back to Germany and all over Europe, including his new favorite destination, Malta. They lived in Stillwater for many years and then they moved into a wonderful senior community in Minneapolis, Abiitan Mill City, and immersed themselves in all that city culture had to offer. A regular at the Fix-It Clinic of Hennepin County, on the board of the Mill City Commons, and a member of the MCC Men's Club, a regular music and theater cultural attender, and so much more, Chuck never stopped in his community involvement throughout his life - a passion he shared with his 4 girls. He enjoyed nearly as many years retired as years working at 3M and made the very best of those deserved years of rest.

Chuck was a kind, warm man who talked to anyone - including those standing in line at the store. He taught his daughters and grandkids the benefits of hard work, integrity, honesty, faithfulness, kindness and giving back. We will all strive to carry on his legacy.

Chuck was preceded in death by his first wife, Millie; his parents and 3 siblings. He is survived by his love, Ute, his daughters, Angela (Chris) Dreis, Sue (Scott) Liukonen, and Traci (Ted) Capistrant; his grandchildren, Shawn (Stephanie) Liukonen, Matthew (Tanya) Liukonen; Nicholas Dreis, Zachary Dreis, Emily (David) Socolov, and Benjamin Capistrant; his great grandchildren, Conner, Emmett and Oliver Liukonen and Blair Liukonen, his 5 remaining siblings and his many, many friends.

We will miss the leader of our band terribly, but we know he was grateful for his wonderful life and family and is at peace.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on May 20 th , 2024, at Bradshaw Funeral & Celebration of Life, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd, Stillwater, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on May 21 st at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN.

Following the mass, a luncheon will be hosted at the church.

Memorials preferred to Mill City Commons or Abiitan Mill City, An Ecumen Living Space, 428 S. 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or online at ecumen.org/give.