Charles J. Moldaschel
SLEEPY EYE–Charles J. Moldaschel, age 94 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died on September 6, 2025, at Sleepy Eye Medical Center. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 10, from 4 until 7 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel, with a prayer service at 3:45 p.m. prior to the visitation. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 10 until 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church – North Entrance in Sleepy Eye with Knights of Columbus Rosary at 10:15 a.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye and will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/stmarysleepyeye. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye. Military Honors will be provided by Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Charles John Moldaschel, the son of William and Rose (Brau) Moldaschel, was born on September 26, 1930, in Sleepy Eye. He grew up with his brother and sister on the family farm near Sleepy Eye. Hard work was instilled in Charles early on and as a young teenager, he manually dug water and sewer lines for area farmers, and he worked seasonally at Del Monte. In 1950, Charles joined the National Guard. He was activated in the United States Army in 1951 where he served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1952. Charles met his future bride, Lucille Mathiowetz, at a dance and they were united in marriage on June 22, 1954, at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. They were blessed with seven children and celebrated 71 years of marriage.
Upon returning home from war, Charles began his life-long career as a well-respected mechanic, opening West Side Garage in 1957 and building his dream garage in 1961. Charles enjoyed working on automobiles so much that he never retired. Not one to sit still, he had a knack for fixing anything and knew how to fly and built his own airplane. He loved to dance and waterski. He looked forward to skiing and family gatherings at the lake cabin.
Community-minded with a willingness to help others, Charles was a member of the Sleepy Eye Jaycees, American Legion, and Catholic Aid Association. He served on the Sleepy Eye Airport Board for over 60 years. He was a proud member of the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. For 33 years, Charles was a firefighter with the Sleepy Eye Fire Department, serving 10 years as the Fire Chief. He was a member of St Mary’s Catholic Church as well as the Knights of Columbus. Charles loved his work, his community, and most of all, his family.
Charles is survived by his wife, Lucille Moldaschel, Sleepy Eye; children, Thomas (Deb) Moldaschel, Sleepy Eye; Rita (Robert) Weiss, Sleepy Eye; Jane (Crista) Moldaschel, Windom; Sally (Tarry) Boelter, Slayton; Diane Fischer, Palmer Lake, Colorado; Ronald (Joy Kotten) Moldaschel, Sleepy Eye; and Jerry (LaJune) Moldaschel, Sartell; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; brother, William Moldaschel; sisters-in-law, Alice Wellman, Patricia Mathiowetz, and Margaret (Leonard) Seidl; and other loving relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Louis and Helen Mathiowetz; sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and Emil Martinka; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Dorothy Mathiowetz; brothers-in-law, Charles Wellman and Vincent Mathiowetz; and great-grandson, Jack Thomas Welle.
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