Notes for Charles (Chuck) Joseph Eisenbeis

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Charles (Chuck) Joseph Eisenbeis

YAKIMA - Charles J. "Chuck" Eisenbeis, born in Blaine, Kansas in 1922, died Tuesday, May 22, 2007 shortly before his 85th birthday. Angels carried him home to his Heavenly Father while he was asleep. Chuck was born and raised on the family farm in Blaine. When the farm was sold in 1936 during the Dust Bowl, the Eisenbeis family moved to Washington. The third oldest son in a family of twelve children, Chuck quit school shortly after his father died and went to work at 15 to help support his younger siblings. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October of 1942 at 19 years of age. The USS Abner Read, on which he and his fellow servicemen so courageously served this country, suffered severe damage in the Aleutians in April of 1943. It was first torpedoed and then hit what was believed to be a drifting Japanese mine. At this time it lost a substantial portion of the stern, but it did not sink. However, seventy-six of the enlisted men on board lost their lives. After the destroyer was repaired in dry dock, it was returned to active duty. The merciful hand of God was to spare Chuck's life a second time. On November 1, 1944 a kamikaze pilot dropped a bomb down the stack of the USS Abner Read. The pilot then crashed onto the main deck. The ship sank in less than 40 minutes after it was hit in waters off the Philippine Islands. Twenty- three men lost their lives.
Chuck was awarded several WWII medals and returned home after an honorable discharge. Chuck then returned to work. Shortly afterwards, he met and married the love of his life, Mabel R. Poirier. He owned and operated Chuck's Meat Market in Wapato for forty years. Chuck was a member of the Wapato Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
Later, he "retired" to his 80 acre ranch in Toppenish where he raised Limousin cattle and hay. Chuck and Mabel sold the Toppenish ranch in July of 2006. They moved to the Terrace Heights area where they celebrated 60 years of marriage on January 28, 2007. Chuck was a loving son, brother, father and grandfather. He was an exemplary member of the Greatest Generation. He will be remembered for his generosity, his devotion and sense of duty to family, community and country, and his belief that he was put on this earth "to help others."
Chuck is survived by his devoted wife, Mabel Eisenbeis, two sisters, Rose Hill of Bellevue and Anna Marie Marchetti of Seattle; three daughters, Judy Calahan of Toppenish, Nancy Eisenbeis, Charlene Loza and son-in-law Martin Loza, all of Yakima; two grandsons, Cory Calahan and Matthew Calahan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and nine brothers and sisters.
Memorials may be made in Chuck's memory to Yakima Regional Heart Center or a favorite charity of the donor.
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room
Why cry for a soul that's free?
Miss me a little
BUT NOT TOO LONG
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss Me, But Let Me Go
For this is a journey
That we all must take
And each must go alone
It's all a part of the Master's plan
A step on the road to go home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss Me, But Let Me Go
There will be no services at Chuck's request. Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home is entrusted with the cremation arrangements.
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CHUCK J EISENBEIS 21 Jun 1922 22 May 2007 (V) 98901 (Yakima, Yakima, WA (none specified) 538-03-9371 Washington