Charles Thatcher's Obituary
Charles Martin Thatcher was born in Anchorage Alaska to Charles and Paula Buchwald Thatcher on May 12, 1925. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 11 2023 at the age of 97. He is preceded in death by his wife Martha and three brothers Earl, Bill and Ernest Thatcher. He is survived by his three children Steven Thatcher, wife Sandy, Kathleen Thatcher Voie, husband (the big guy as dad called him), Edward and Virginia Thatcher Marlin, husband Richard. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Our dad served in the Army on tug boats in WW Two. He enlisted on August 1943 at Annette Island in Alaska. He was discharged on February 1946 at Fort Lewis in Washington State. He was a marine engineer and sharp shooter with a rifle. He was awarded the Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal for his service.
Charles married Martha Jane Rice on June 2, 1949. They quickly had three children; 1951, 1952, and 1953. Dad was a commercial fisherman trolling in SE Alaska with his son Steve for many years. In the winter months he would work at Bufflin’s and later Fairliner Boat Builders. He retired in his early 70’s from fishing which made our mom very happy.
If you wanted to know where dad was, the answer was in the shop. He was a man of many talents; house builder, boat builder and builder of many inventions for his work. He built his last boat, The Helm Point, a ferro-cement boat, in his driveway over three winters. It was a family project with all hands on deck. When we smell diesel and creosote, it reminds us of our dad and the many summers spent near the docs while he worked on his boat. Dad was a man with a dry sense of humor and quick wit. He could make us laugh so easily.
Dad and mom with their dog Missy; their little coach motorhome (a gift from my brother Steve) travelled all over the USA. He also joined a boat club which his friend Gene Lemon ran, along with other men. Dad built many boat models based off actual boats he owned, worked on and one ran by family members.
We are going to miss him so much. We were blessed to have him as our father. Farwell, dad, see you in heaven.
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