Charles Driscoll

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 27, 2012 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.VISITATION : 5-8:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.INTERMENT : St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Cemetery in Park Rapids, MNSURVIVORS : His siblings: Tom (Bridie) of Winter Park, FL, Alice (Frank) Brown of St. Cloud, MN, Marianne Kidd (Al Van Maren) of Harvard, IL and Margie (Larry) Axelson of Baxter, MN; 15 nieces and nephews and 27 great nieces and nephews. CHARLES EDWIN "CHUCK" DRISCOLLJune 18, 1926 ~ July 21, 2012 Charles Edwin "Chuck" Driscoll, age 86 of Park Rapids, MN passed away on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids. Chuck was born in his family home in Park Rapids, MN on June 18, 1926 to Joseph and Cecilia (Ward) Driscoll. In 1936, when Chuck was 10 years old, his family moved to the new home they built on the shore of Long Lake where they previously had spent the summers in cabins. Chuck attended the Park Rapids High School. Before his senior year at age 17, realizing that he was likely to be drafted for World War II, Chuck received permission from his parents to enlist in the United States Navy. Chuck served his country in the South Pacific from June 1944 until his honorable discharge in June of 1946. Chuck was a gunner with the Armed Guard, part of the team guarding his Merchant Marine ship from attacks. He served on the USS Cape Constantine, the USS American Victory and the USS Otus. Through his binoculars, he watched as Japan formally surrendered at the end of the war. Following his discharge, Chuck moved back to his family"s home in Park Rapids, where he lived for the next 67 years. He managed the family business, Driscoll"s Café, on Main Street in Park Rapids. The café was known for its homemade ice cream and had a taxi stand outside. Following the sale of that business, he worked for the forestry department of the DNR in a variety of outdoor positions including fighting local forest fires. He also operated Driscoll"s Motorcycle Repair Service in downtown Park Rapids and a small engine repair shop at his home. In 1999, he proudly received his High School diploma for the Class of 1945. Chuck greatly enjoyed the outdoors. Summers and winters would find him fishing on a local lake or in Canada. The fall was reserved for hunting with friends and family. Many hunting trips were taken to the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana for both big and small game. He enjoyed teaching young folks about hunting as much as he enjoyed the hunting itself. He was also a very avid snowmobiler beginning in the early 1960"s. He was part of "Team De La Hunt" which raced in eight of the Winnipeg to St. Paul 500 mile snowmobile races. He was also a member of the Secret Dudes snowmobile club which enjoyed snowmobiling together. Rare was the year that he didn"t put 4,500+ miles on his snowmobile with his friends. He very reluctantly retired from fishing, hunting and snowmobiling in 2010 at the age of 84. Special thanks to Ed and Carol De La Hunt, Jim and Brenda Wright, Dr. Vern Erickson, Many Lakes Home Care and the Living at Home Volunteers. Chuck greatly appreciated all your help. Chuck is survived by his siblings: Tom (Bridie) of Winter Park, FL, Alice (Frank) Brown of St. Cloud, MN, Marianne Kidd (Al Van Maren) of Harvard, IL and Margie (Larry) Axelson of Baxter, MN; 15 nieces and nephews; 27 great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Ward and Don and his niece, Colleen. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 27, 2012 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating. The Alleluia Choir will provide the music. The casketbearers will be: Frank Brown, Mike Brown, Manuel Pastor, Mary Brown, Ann Brown and Kathy Wurst. Military Honors will be provided by Star of the North Marine Corps League. Visitation will be held from 5-8:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Cemetery in Park Rapids, MN. A luncheon will be hosted at the American Legion.