Obituary: Charles H. Bassford III

November 2, 1923 ~ January 9, 2021

Charles (“Charlie”) Bassford died on January 9, 2021, while in Yuma, Arizona, with family at his side. Charlie was born to C. Hollis II and Florence (Norton) Bassford at the Norton family homestead in Sevastopol Township, Door County, Wisconsin on November 2, 1923. He was a graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School, class of 1941, the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Roosevelt University, Chicago.

He was stationed in North Africa and India while serving in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and thereafter was a member of the Wisconsin Reserves. Charlie taught Jr. and Senior High for many years in McHenry, Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect and Elk Grove Village, Illinois and also served as a Jr. High Principal and School District Administrator. Always a student and teacher, Charlie was committed to memorizing the Word of God and teaching Sunday School in various churches. On October 17, 1952, he married the love of his life, Beatrice Newman.

Charlie is survived by three children, Barb (Paul) Lambert, Charles IV (Cheryll) and Kathy (Danny) Mockler, nineteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren (and another on the way) in addition to numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, including Sue and Jim Southard, Steve and Tracy Propsom, Sam and Debbie Propsom, and sister-in-law Carol Newman. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bea, and his sister Betty Lou Bassford Propsom Delair.

The family thanks Pastor Jerry and Rosemary Marsden and Dale Seiler for many years of friendship and support, and neighbors, the Mark Forbes family, and Forbes Funeral Home for handling burial arrangements at Bayside Cemetery, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a celebration of Charlie’s life will be held later this year in Door County.  Memorials in Charlie’s name can be sent to Calvary Baptist Fellowship, 915 Egg Harbor Road, P.O. Box 714, Sturgeon Bay, WI, 54235.