Tim “Charlie Chase” Bohlke

A visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday December 10th at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. On Monday, December 11th at 10:30 AM a Mass of Christian Burial will be at Holy Trinity Parish with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery with military rites conducted by the V.F.W. Post 1856 and the U. S. Air Force Honor Guard.

Charlie was born in LeMars, Iowa, on August 13th, 1955. He was the son of Milo “Toby” Bohlke and Esther Kellen who preceded him in death as well as his father-in-law John Mulholland, his uncle Elmer and aunt Cyrilla Loutsch, his grandparents Ike and Susan Bohlke and Bill and Anna Kellen. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lynn, his two sons Tony and Collin, his siblings Jan (Charlie) Hildreth, Nancy (Herb) Reckinger, Mark (Nancee) Bohlke, Christine (Don) Dhabolt, and his in laws Neven (Jill) Mulholland, Neil (Feona) Mulholland and his mother-in-law Carolyn Mulholland.

Following graduating from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Remsen, Iowa, Charlie enlisted into the Air Force on July 4th, 1973. He served as an Air Force Security Policeman with the 81st Air Police Squadron for two years at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1975, Charlie went to Great Britain to Royal Air Force Base Woodbridge for two years and successfully discharged at the rank of E4 Sergeant in 1977.

After returning to the United States, Charlie was a police officer for the Remsen Police Department for 2 years. In the fall of 1979, influenced and inspired by late night radio in Remsen during his police patrols, Charlie moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he attended the Brown Institute of Broadcasting completing training as a disc jockey and radio broadcaster. In 1980, “Charlie Chase” would hit the airwaves working at KKEZ and Super 97 KRIT where “Come Alive At Five” was born. Charlie played the best music for the large crowd that bustled into the Rock N Roll Reunion in the Trolley Center every Wednesday night. If you ask anyone that was in Fort Dodge around that time, the booming voice of Mike Perry’s introduction, Charlie Chase, and “Come Alive At Five” were synonymous with each other. The dynamic duo Mike Perry and Charlie Chase were the boys to be seen on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving; the most popular night of the year in the area. Charlie loved radio, he loved music, and he had the radio waves coursing through his veins.

Following radio, Charlie worked in various jobs where he enjoyed continuing to make new relationships with customers in the various fields of service, fortifying long-lasting friendships, and continuing to serve the community in which he loved. Although he enjoyed the various jobs that he did after radio, it was always about the people, a joke, and a smile.

On March 4th, 1989, Charlie Bohlke and Lynn Mulholland were married. Recently, they went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand where they spent 30 wonderful days together against the backdrop of the beautiful mountains and crystal clear blue waters.

At the time of his passing, Charlie worked at MidContinent Lumber Company where he enjoyed the friendships that he made with his customers throughout the State of Iowa. Charlie was an organ donor and the family finds great comfort in knowing that he will continue to help others.

He was a beloved husband, father, brother, veteran, friend, and man. He cherished the people in his life and is also survived by several nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends who will all miss him dearly.

As “The Boy In The Box” always said “Be good, buy bonds, and bye bye”.