Chuck Steele

Charles Dean Steele

May 10, 1952 - March 23, 2021

Boulder Daily Camera

legacy.com

Charles Dean Steele, also known as Chuck, Chucky, Uncle Chuck, Chucky Lucky, Charlie Harley, Chuck the French Meat Cutter, Dad, and Grandpa, passed away on March 23, 2021 in his sleep after a courageous 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was 68 years young.  

Chuck was born May 10, 1952 to Walter and Maybelle Steele in Winner, S.D.   Although he was number 11 of their 13 children, he was not forgotten amongst the crowd.  In fact, he was arguably the most famous of them all.  Family and friends were truly the center of his life.  Family reunions and the road trips to get there were his most cherished times.  If there ever was a loud eruption of laughter from a group of people, he would be at the center.  No matter the company he was in, everyone was always smiling.  The family moved to Boulder in 1955 by way of two pick-up trucks.  

He became sole owner of Steele’s Market at 4th and Arapahoe in his early 20s.  With a lot of hard work, he turned it from a retail grocery store into Steele’s Meat Company, a thriving wholesale meat business.  For decades, if you ate a hamburger at a restaurant in Boulder, it was most likely supplied by him.  

His love of motorcycles started early.  First in the dirt, as required by his wife until he was 40, then to the street with Harleys and, of course, Pure Steel.  He made annual trips, whether it was a family road trip, camping trip or trips (yes, plural) or to the desert to ride with his buddies.  Later in life, this transitioned to long Harley rides in the mountains and/or early tee times for a round of golf with friends.  

To not mention football would not do him justice.  He loved football, especially the 

CU Buffs.  Tailgating with friends in the parking lot at Folsom Field was how he spent many Saturdays in the fall.  In the 1980s he had season tickets to the Broncos.  “Under the Hang Gang” was the name he and his wife shared with fellow seat mates, which was a nod to the location of the seats at Mile High Stadium.  Watching games at home or in a stadium, live or recorded, was the best way to pass time when not in the dirt, playing golf, or at work.  

He is survived by many including his wife of 47 years, Nancy Steele; his three children Heather Lind, Christopher Steele, and Ashley Steele; 2 grandchildren Magnus and Thea Lind; 6 of his 8 sisters: Darlene Huddle, Mary Ellen Lynass, Carol Fernandez, Shirley Flynn, Arla Stark, and Margo Rosser; and 3 of his 4 brothers: Allan Steele, Douglas Steele, and Bradley Steele.  He is preceded in death by sisters Joyce Mayes and Maureen Williams and brother Tom Steele, and his parents.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am, April 22, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.  We are hoping to plan a celebration of life for sometime in the summer of 2021.

Eulogy delivered by Chuck’s daughter, Heather Lind: 

My dad, our dad, your husband, your father-in-law, your grandpa, your brother, your uncle, your cousin, your friend.  Chuck Steele held so many monikers because he embodied something different for each of us;  that was just who he was.  He was truly the definition of “larger than life.”  Work, family, and friends were the 3 essential parts of his life. They each were intently focused on and nurtured daily.  His drive for work came from his drive to provide for his family - which I believe required a lot of play time with his friends to blow off some necessary steam.  

His mind for business started young.  As a kid, he learned early on that the more work you did, the more money you could sock away for a rainy day.  Mowing lawns for the neighbors was one of the first jobs he had.  Now according to my dad’s version of the story, his brothers were all doing the work, they were just too shy to go and collect the money from the houses.  Chuck figured he would go door to door, set-up the jobs, collect the money and have his brothers do the work.  And they did.  Now this is not to insinuate that Chuck was not a worker.   In fact, he was the hardest working man I knew.  In addition to the lawn mowing jobs, he also had a paper route.  He is the only person I have known to have had 2 jobs in elementary school.  

As I am sure everyone is aware, the Steeles were basically their own village, a clan if you will.  Being raised in such a large family, there were bound to be quarrels, and there were.  He always spoke about there being a time and a place for disagreements.  Holidays and family gatherings were not the time.  From what he told me and what I remember, everyone always did put their best foot forward (as best they could) and enjoyed the gathering and/or the meal.  I realize now these were simple practice runs of forgiveness.  I am not sure if that was always the outcome, but that space was created in order to try.  I think that was something Walt and Maybelle instilled but my dad whole heartedly encouraged us to do the same.  

Motorcycles and football were the 2 pillars in our house when I was growing up.  I still remember being so afraid of the sound of the dirt bikes starting up under the carport at the old house.  I would run inside and try to catch a glimpse of my dad riding by a window.  His returns from the desert with his dirt bike riding buddies was always marked by a large amount of red dust and dirt; and quite often, my mom suturing some injury with butterfly band-aids in the kitchen.  And then there was football.  He loved football.  I remember back before DVRs and pause, and even before picture-in-picture, he would collect the various TVs from other rooms and set them up on folding tables - one time he had 3 TVs set-up, so he didn’t miss a play during the playoffs. 

He wore cowboy boots on most occasions, motorcycles boots and golf shoes for play, and plain, white, generic tennis shoes in between all that.  He preferred his hands to style his hair over any brush or comb.  He always left the house smelling of Royal Lyme.  His dance moves were legendary.  I loved to dance with him.  “The drape” was our signature dance move that we spent years perfecting.  He will always be the best dance partner I have ever had.  

In recent years, he was finally able to allow himself to “relax,” spend more time playing and less time working.  I found it kind of funny for a man who mostly enjoyed motorcycles, football, and fast cars to so effortlessly take up golf.  Maybe it was the stark difference between them or maybe because it was best played early in the mornings.  Or maybe it was that 19th hole.  Whatever the reason, it suited him well.  When he would head out to Bear Creek, I knew it would be a good day for him.  He loved going to Arizona; he said it made him feel like he was on an extended vacation.  No chores to do or potential new accounts to go see.  Oh, and no snow.  He was thoroughly enjoying the sunset days of his life.  

Thank you all for coming here today.  Today will mark the beginning of the Remembering Celebration of Chuck Steele.  This celebration will have no end, no last call or lights out.  And that is about how much time we will need to recall all the jokes he told, the stories he recounted, the dance moves he showed off, and the crazy inaccurate accents he would speak with.  To say that we have all been blessed to have known him would be an understatement.  The energy and life force my dad radiated is eternal.  He wasn’t just the life of the party, he was that initial spark that turned dark days to light.  

Remarks and remembrances of classmates:  

I send my love.  Raise a glass to Chuck and spill some on the ground for me.  Donald Ostrow

He’s riding his Harley Davidson in heaven.  Ron Bunnell

I personally will remember Chuck for his love of family, loyalty to his friends, and his lust for life.  

Beckie Miller Alexander

He enjoyed life and always had a sense of fun.  Marsha Parquette Spanswick

That’s my Steeler.  Chucky Chook . . . One of the studs who walked the walk as we never lost playing together in Sacred Heart colors . . . wild ass games in Greeley, Collins, mountain towns . . . we brought it everywhere.  Mark McMillen

Chuck was a good kid that turned into a better teenager that turned into a good and generous man, boisterously happy!  He taught me how to tie a Windsor knot and many self defense tactics as kids at Sacred Heart.  I am not sure they were ready for you in Heaven, Chuck, so take it easy for a little while.  

Mike Crabtree

I called him Steeler . . . he called me Mr. Mac.  Our years at Sacred Heart are burned into my memory.  We were classmates for those 9 years and were joined at the hip as two guards on the Sacred Heart basketball teams.  To my best recollection, nobody beat us.  He had one of the greatest set shots of all time.  He’d launch it and we’d watch that beautifully released soft tear drop arc float until it reached its destination . . . more often than not . . . it was nothing but net!  Thank you, my larger than life backcourt brother . . . never forget what we shared.  On and off the court.  I love you Steeler!  Mark McMillen

Chuck was always the life of the “after party” and always so friendly and generous to his friends and our class.  Such a good guy since we were 10 years old.  Enjoy the next stop, Chuck!  Sally Reilly Robinson

Such a generous heart and great smile.  Tricia Trigg Pittman

I’ll always remember Chuck’s smile and his big hugs.  He would yell out my name and the hugs would follow.  I’ll keep those memories always.  Nancy Hudson Helmuth  

He may be gone, but will be remembered by family and friends.  David Pohlmann, Jr.