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NIAGARA, Wis. -- Charles William Tolonen, 87, of Niagara, Wis., passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain.
Born in Painsdale, on March 1, 1939, to Eli and Hulda Tolonen, Chuck graduated from L'Anse High School. He served four years in the Army before marrying Maryann Hansen, with whom he raised two daughters, Wendy and Yvonne. On Oct. 19, 1999, he wed Karen Tolonen in Las Vegas, beginning nearly 27 years of marriage.
Charles worked for many years as a machinist. Following his retirement, he stayed active as a driver and courier for local businesses and by assisting the elderly. An avid outdoorsman, Chuck enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, camping, and riding with the Pleasure Riders Motorcycle Club. He was a skilled woodworker who spent winters in Arizona and cherished competitive cribbage games in the log cabin he built.
Charles will be deeply missed by his wife, Karen Tolonen; two daughters, Wendy (Keith) Oudenhoven and Yvonne (Sid) Cegelski; two stepsons, Brian and Mark (Missy) Brisbane; four grandchildren, Alexis (Casey), Kyle (Megan), Kodey (Booke), and Taylor; four great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Evelyn, Chase, and Kelvin; five nieces and nephews, Trudy, Karen, Corrine, Steve, and Kenny; and many other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Charles is preceded in death by three siblings, Wallace Tolonen, Clarence Tolonen, and Marie (Reno) Ketola.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home, 901 Carpenter Ave. Burial will be in the Quinnesec Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Charles William Tolonen online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.
The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.