Charles "Chuck" Bernhard Adams
March 1, 1961 — April 4, 2019
Charles "Chuck" Bernhard Adams, 58, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, Iowa, due to a glioblastoma brain tumor. A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 1, 1961 where his father was stationed during his Army service, Chuck spent his early years traveling with his parents during his father's military career. Once his father retired from the Army, Chuck lived in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, until his teenage years, when the family moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Chuck joined the United States Air Force after his high school graduation in 1979. He proudly served as an air traffic controller and combat controller until his honorable discharge in 1988. He served at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas and the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina. After the military, Chuck joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller. He started with the FAA at the Detroit Metropolitan airport. Then, he worked at the MBS International Airport in Saginaw, Michigan. For twenty three years, he worked at the Grand Forks International Airport in North Dakota where he retired in 2015. Chuck was very active in the National Air Traffic Controllers Association serving in several capacities including Facility Representative and the Legislative Team. Chuck took great pride in his work and was an instructor and mentor to numerous other air traffic controllers.
Chuck married Ute Purkott on September 10, 1983, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They had two sons, Tony and Michael, and lived in several cities until they settled in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1992 for twenty six years. Chuck enjoyed softball, basketball, racquetball and golf. He loved his German Shepherd dogs and would walk Zeus and Zayda four times a day even in below zero weather. Chuck loved riding his motorcycle and did so whenever he had a chance. Chuck worked at the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin every summer. It was a highlight of his year as he worked the aviation show for fifteen years. In his younger years, Chuck was a youth leader at Zion United Methodist Church. He enjoyed mentoring Zion’s youth and especially taking them on their annual ski trip. He also coached youth soccer and football teams. Chuck enjoyed spending time with people and touched many hearts. Last Fall, Chuck and Ute decided to move to Cedar Rapids to be close to their children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Ute; sons, Tony (Jenni) and Michael; grandsons, Archer and Everett; and his mother, Ingrid all of Cedar Rapids. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles, last year.
Military Honors will be provided after the service by Ofutt Air Force Base Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Hospice of Mercy or the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, Iowa.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 1, 1961 where his father was stationed during his Army service, Chuck spent his early years traveling with his parents during his father's military career. Once his father retired from the Army, Chuck lived in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, until his teenage years, when the family moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Chuck joined the United States Air Force after his high school graduation in 1979. He proudly served as an air traffic controller and combat controller until his honorable discharge in 1988. He served at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas and the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina. After the military, Chuck joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller. He started with the FAA at the Detroit Metropolitan airport. Then, he worked at the MBS International Airport in Saginaw, Michigan. For twenty three years, he worked at the Grand Forks International Airport in North Dakota where he retired in 2015. Chuck was very active in the National Air Traffic Controllers Association serving in several capacities including Facility Representative and the Legislative Team. Chuck took great pride in his work and was an instructor and mentor to numerous other air traffic controllers.
Chuck married Ute Purkott on September 10, 1983, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They had two sons, Tony and Michael, and lived in several cities until they settled in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1992 for twenty six years. Chuck enjoyed softball, basketball, racquetball and golf. He loved his German Shepherd dogs and would walk Zeus and Zayda four times a day even in below zero weather. Chuck loved riding his motorcycle and did so whenever he had a chance. Chuck worked at the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin every summer. It was a highlight of his year as he worked the aviation show for fifteen years. In his younger years, Chuck was a youth leader at Zion United Methodist Church. He enjoyed mentoring Zion’s youth and especially taking them on their annual ski trip. He also coached youth soccer and football teams. Chuck enjoyed spending time with people and touched many hearts. Last Fall, Chuck and Ute decided to move to Cedar Rapids to be close to their children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Ute; sons, Tony (Jenni) and Michael; grandsons, Archer and Everett; and his mother, Ingrid all of Cedar Rapids. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles, last year.
Military Honors will be provided after the service by Ofutt Air Force Base Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Hospice of Mercy or the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, Iowa.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles "Chuck" Bernhard Adams, please visit our flower store.