Obituary of Charles E. Dickinson

Charles E. Dickinson, 72 of North Liberty died unexpectedly at his home Thursday, November 8, 2007. Memorial services will be held 4pm Thursday, November 15, 2007, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness in Iowa City, where there will be a time of visitation one hour prior to the services. A memorial fund has been established in Chuck’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Charles Earl Dickinson was born October 9, 1935, in Denver, CO, the son of Roy and Gladys (Gilmore) Dickinson. He met his wife, Bonnie Mae Miller at a convention in Hawaii and they were married six months later on May 2, 1970, in Iowa City. For over 24 years he worked at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the Maintenance Department. For all his life, he was an active Jehovah’s Witness, always eager to minister to others. Chuck was baptized in 1941 at a special convention in St. Louis, MO. In his youth he traveled the world attending International Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses from New York, to London, to Stockholm, to Milan, to Athens, to Munich, to Jerusalem, to Beirut, to Jakarta, to Melbourne, to Singapore, to Fiji, to Honolulu, and back to Los Angeles. He was always ready to share his faith (and Watchtower Magazines) with everyone he met. Chuck loved tools, they were very precious to him. He trusted them and loved collecting, using, and tinkering with them. He, stubbornly, performed his own car and home repair work. He was the real old-fashioned jack of all trades. Chuck also loved learning about science and technology, from public TV programs like NOVA to magazines like National Geographic, Popular Mechanic’s, and Popular Science. He loved looking at the stars and pictures of space. He always enjoyed playing chess. He also loved pro-wrestling, old country music, eating and pro-football with his favorite team being the Denver Bronco’s. Chuck was a dedicated, hard worker. He gave his best effort on what ever he worked on. He always thought he could improve himself. Even when his condition worsened, he believed he would get better if more effort were put forth. He sometimes obsessed about practicing things to get them right. He believed in himself. His family includes his wife, Bonnie; son, Kotenmaru of North Liberty; daughter, Elizabeth Nealley of Sanford, FL; sisters, Margaret Graybeal and her husband, Wesley, of Denver, CO; and Doris Dickinson of Walsenburg, CO; Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and Roy; brother, John; and sister, Mary. Chuck always believed in a resurrection of the dead, and hoped to one day see them again in the Paradise he believed Jehovah would one day make the World. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Chuck’s family and his services.