Charles "Chuck" Laures

Charles (Chuck) Laures passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, with his family by his side, at the Chandler Regional Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona.

Chuck was born in New Hampton, Iowa on November 2, 1941, to his late parents Clem and Madonna Laures. Chuck grew up farming with his parents and learning about the agricultural industry that would become his future customer base. Growing up in the 40’s and early 50’s, Chuck fell in love with Big Band music and ballroom dancing, a love that would ultimately shape and be one of the pursuits of his life. The music and the dancing would bring him to meet the love of his life, Elaine, on a dance floor in 1960. Chuck and Elaine were married on December 1st, 1962, and began their family of three boys: Jeff, Brian, and Doug on the family farm in New Hampton. In 1966 the family moved to Osage, Iowa where Chuck worked for Farm Services (FS). Since Chuck could strike up a conversation with anyone, in May 1969, he took this skill to New York Life Insurance Company for a lifetime career as an accomplished agent.

Chuck intensely followed and supported their three boys through sports. He also had a broad interest, knowledge, and skills in anything mechanical. He rebuilt and refinished a roll top desk, for his office in the family garage, he remodeled three of the family homes and fully restored a 1941 John Deere B tractor, just to name a few of his many projects.

Retirement in Mesa, Arizona, Chuck found the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). On his first flight aboard the B-17G, he found his next passion! As a result, he became a member of the maintenance crew for the iconic B-17G Flying Fortress Bomber, "Sentimental Journey" (tail number 44-83514), for the CAF in Mesa. He flew many flights on Sentimental Journey as a member of the crew. His responsibility, as the loadmaster, was to keep passengers and cargo secure and safe during flight. With Chuck being a WWII historian, there are no words to express what this opportunity meant to him!

He also designed and built a fully furnished wood shop where he created many family keepsakes; furniture, toy barns, jewelry boxes, steamer trunks, Pennsylvania spice boxes, wood bowls, vases, cutting boards, cradles, and grandfather clocks. In his words, "I butchered up wood and put it back together into various projects", All of his projects were truly amazing, and he was an incredible woodworker craftsman.

Throughout their 63 years of marriage, Chuck and Elaine continued to attend Big Band dances on countless occasions, they traveled the Midwest attending dances and following their favorite bands. Through these travels, they met and developed deep, lifelong friendships with couples and band leaders from Canada to Arizona.

Chuck is survived by his wife Elaine and their three sons Jeff (Sandy) of Dallas, Brian (Sherry) of Kansas City, and Doug (Ann) of Golden, British Columbia. Chuck is also survived by his sister Sharon Krizan (Bernard) of Fredericksburg, IA and brother Rick (June) of Ionia, IA, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Chuck and Elaine’s primary residence is Osage, IA, but at the time of Chuck’s passing, they were in their Mesa, AZ home where they escaped the cold Iowa winters for the last 23 years.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, Iowa. Visitation will take place Friday, May 29, 2026, from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. There will be no burial at this time. Chuck and Elaine's wishes are to be laid to rest at the same time, which will correspond to the time of Elaine's passing.

It is fitting that in Glen Miller's song, Chuck can take his B-17, Sentimental Journey home ...

"I'm gonna take that Sentimental Journey, Sentimental Journey home"

Chuck’s incredible energy, magnetism, drive, and ambition for life and all of his pursuits will be missed by all.

May God Bless you Chuck, until we meet again.

Hoff Celebrations - Champion Chapel of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.hoffcelebrations.com.