Charles L. Ware

Charles Lincoln Ware

January 26, 1930 – October 8, 2024

Charles Lincoln (“Charlie”) Ware, 94, recently of Clive and a long-time resident of Grundy Center, died Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at UnityPoint Methodist West Hospital in West Des Moines. He was born in Hardin County on January 26, 1930, the youngest son of Charles H. and Susan (Hess) Ware.

He grew up in Grundy County, working on the family farm with his seven brothers and sisters. He attended country school, then Grundy Center Community High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1948.

After graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force as a medic. On July 1, 1952, he married his hometown sweetheart, Ruth Ellen Abels, in the F.E. Warren Air Force Base chapel in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He served and lived in Cheyenne until after the birth of their first child.

While on military leave, he helped his father build a barn (which stands today) on cropland adjacent to where he grew up south of Grundy Center. In 1955, he returned to Iowa with his young family to build a life. He constructed every building on the farmstead, which he cared for and lived for more than 60 years.

During his farming career, he raised farrow-to-finish hogs, Charolais and Red Angus cattle and chickens. He also grew corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats, and was a local representative for multiple seed companies. Charles and Ruth were Winter Texans for more than 20 years, and in 2016 they moved from the farm to a senior living facility in Altoona.

He was proud of his military service and a member of the Amvet Post 17 in Beaman. He served on the Grundy County Memorial Hospital board as both a member and President. He was a member and worshiped at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center, Alice Church of God in Conrad, and Salem Church of Lincoln. He was a long-time member of Manly’s Coffee Club in Grundy Center.

Charles loved playing cards, whether it was with friends, a couple’s card club that met for many decades, or his family including sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. Later in life he was always up for a game of cribbage with anyone who visited.

Family was important to him and, as “shepherd of the flock,” family members often sought his advice. He shared his love for the outdoors (and trout fishing) by taking family on camping trips to Northeast Iowa, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Snowy Range in Wyoming.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth, brothers Chet, Clyde and Louis Ware, and sisters Jessie Ware, Alice Schwarck, Joyce Petersen and Barbara Doss.

Survivors include four children Laura (Dave) Miller of Ames, Nancy (Joe) Wauters of Windsor Heights, Dr. Lowell (Nancy) Ware of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, and Eric (Amanda) Ware of Windsor Heights; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25 at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center, with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery, followed by a meal at the church. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, October 24 at Abels Funeral and Cremation Service Engelkes Chapel in Grundy Center.

Flowers are welcome; contributions may be sent to the family, which will be donated to the Grundy County Memorial Hospital and a memorial at one of his favorite camping or fishing spots in Northeast Iowa.