Obituaries

Charles Horace “Chuck” Krahnke, age 89, of Drummond Island, Michigan, died at his home on April 1, 2023. He was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, on January 12, 1934, to Horace Oscar “Skip” and Florine Isabella (Unger) Krahnke.

Chuck grew up in Wyandotte and moved with his family to Charlevoix, Michigan after World War II. He graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1952 and attended the University of Michigan where he was a member of the Wolverines football team for three years. During summers, he worked for a construction company building runways at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. While conducting company banking and payroll duties, he became familiar with a bank teller, Doris E. Wiseley. A shared table at a busy lunch diner sparked the relationship that has lasted until now. Chuck and Doris married on December 29, 1956, in Barton City, Michigan. After completing a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University, Chuck began teaching and coaching at Alcona High School in 1959 where he also became athletic director, taught driver’s education, and managed the Barton City summer league baseball team. The family moved to Oscoda in 1967 where he continued teaching at Oscoda High School. Chuck coached many Owls sports including football, basketball, track and field, and tennis. While in Oscoda, he and the family enjoyed boating on the northern Great Lakes piloting the ‘Dori K’, and Chuck spent many years as an officer in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. After retiring in 1987, Chuck and Doris moved to Drummond Island where they continued to manage and operate Krahnke’s Maxton Point Resort. Chuck and Doris were instrumental in the co-founding of the Drummond Island Lutheran Church. As the church grew Chuck took over many church duties, contributed to the construction of the church, and eventually completed training to become an ordained Deacon and Lay Minister in the mid-1990s. In his late70s, he stepped down due to health reasons but continued to fill in occasionally over the last several years.

Chuck was a member of the Harrisville Lions Club in Harrisville, Michigan, the Drummond Island Lion’s Club, and the Drummond Island Sportsman Club, President of the Drummond Island Clinic Board, and the Drummond Island Chamber of Commerce, during which he was the initial organizer of the annual Drummond Island Golf Classic.

Chuck was an avid outdoorsman. He loved spending time outside and enjoyed all types of fishing, duck hunting, deer hunting, snowmobiling, playing and watching golf, gardening, grilling, and watching sports, especially football, and basketball. He was a loyal University of Michigan Wolverines fan and did his best to root for the Detroit Lions.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Doris Krahnke; son, Keith (Kathy) Krahnke of Pickford, Michigan; daughter, Karen Bacon of Jenison, Michigan; daughter-in-law, Becky Krahnke (Jeff Parr) of Brown City, Michigan; grandchildren, Jason (Sara) Krahnke, Melissa Krahnke, Andrew (Devon) Krahnke, Jessica Bacon, Matthew (Cami) Bacon, and Kristen Krahnke(fiancé Noah Beh); great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Amy, Delanie, “MJ” Matt Jr., and Roman. Also survived by a sister, Gail (Keith) Evans of Traverse City, Michigan; beloved niece, Anita (Mike) Brooks; sister-in-law Sherry Wiseley, along with many other nieces and nephews.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Florine; daughter, Kristen Krahnke; son, Kenneth Krahnke; son-in-law Rennie Bacon, and brothers-in-law John, Donald, and Ralph Wiseley, sisters-in-law Ellen Barton and Jean McKim.

Memorial Service will be held at Drummond Island Lutheran Church on Friday, May 5th, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. Doris and family will be at the church to receive visitors at 11:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Memorial Contributions can be made out to the Drummond Island Lutheran Church, 29515 E. Channel Rd., Drummond Island, Michigan 49726, and/or the Drummond Island EMS and Fire and Rescue, 29934 E. Court St, Drummond Island, Michigan 49726.

Final Resting Place will be at Drummond Island Cemetery.

Galer Funeral Homes & Cremation of Pickford, Michigan, is serving the family. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.