Chuck spent his childhood in Lead, graduating from Lead High School in 1958. He worked for Homestake Mine for a few years before starting his career as a conservation officer with South Dakota Game Fish & Parks, retiring after 29 years. After his years with SDGF & P, he worked for Wharf Resources.

Chuck married Penny Olson and they raised four children, Deb, Russell, Cindy and Belinda. Later, he married Pat Moore-Essink and they blended two families together adding Dan, Jeff and Lisa Essink.

Two things meant more to Chuck than anything. His love of everything outdoors kept him hunting and fishing, golfing, hiking, scouting for his next buck. His other great love was family and to combine the two by fishing with a brother, taking a grandchild hunting, showing a great-grandchild how to cast a pole…those moments were the ones which defined his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John (Sonny) and Duane, his daughter Cindy Hammer and step-son Jeff Essink and daughter-in-law, Teddi Essink. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Pat, son, Russell (Kay) Webster of Custer, SD, daughters, Deb (John) Tridle, Lead, SD, Belinda (Scott) Rovere, Sturgis; stepchildren, Dan Essink, Deadwood; Lisa (Mike) Kitzmiller, Jeff’s wife, Sherry Essink, Central City; a sister, Dolly Priebe of Chamberlain; twenty loved grandchildren and many beloved great and great-great grandchildren with more on the way. Chuck’s black lab, Titus, has been his constant companion for several years.