Charles Loy Obituary

Charles F. Loy, of Marathon, WI, passed away peacefully at home on July 1, 2025, at the age of 90.

Charles was born April 30, 1935, to Senta (Radant) and Bruno Loy, in the town of Stettin. He went to Spring Valley School and Marathon High School. 55 years later he came back to Stettin to live out his life with his wife Nancy and son Michael.

In 1954 Charles enlisted into the military and became a paratrooper after jump school with the 82nd Airborne Division. Throughout 1955 Charles made 21 jumps as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and with the 11th Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and the 11th Airborne at Augsburg and Munich Germany.

In 1956, their C119 flying boxcars had to air lift the paratroopers at Munich because the air strips at Augsburg were still bombed out from World War II. Charles was a member of the 82nd Airborne 4 division rifle teams through 1955. He out shot all 160 members of the 4 division rifle teams. This is where the military recruits' snipers from.

In 1956 Charles was transferred to the 11th Airborne Division to bring it up to full strength and became the first American Elite forces to come back to Germany since World War II. In 1956 the 11th Airborne Division was put on combat jumps alert twice. Once to take on the Russians after they moved into Budapest, Hungary, and the second jump was to take on the Egyptians after they sank 40 ships in the Suez Canal.

In 1957 Charles received an honorable discharge from the military. Charles never fired another rifle to hunt or target practice after leaving the military.

On July 26, 1958, Charles married the love of his life, Nancy Graveen. They had four beautiful children: Pamela (Tony) Doan, Kirk (Viveca) Loy, Barry (Roxanne) Loy, and Michael Loy. Then was blessed with 5 grandchildren, and 12 beautiful great grandchildren.

Charles worked for over 30 years at Kraft Foods in Wausau. He represented the Teamsters Union at Kraft Foods for more than 13 years as Chief Stewart and was also an officer with Teamsters Local 446 out of Wausau.

In the late 60's and early 70's he was a Marathon County deputy as a bouncer in beer bars and ballrooms. Throughout his life he never turned down a challenge to turn arms with anyone.

At an arm turning contest in the late 70's he received a first-place trophy involving men from Wisconsin and upper Michigan that were in their 40-year age group.

In the late 80's Charles set everything aside and took on an invitation to buy a used pick up along with his son Kirk, to get a passport and visa within one day and go on a 3,000 miles trip into Central America. They were stopped twice in one night by the Mexican Federal Police. The police were looking for guys going South and drugs going North. Their trip ended in the jungles of Belize where Charles' son owned property on the Belize River which is home to crocodiles.

In 1990 he took early retirement from Kraft Foods to take care of his handicapped son full time, which he continued the rest of his life along with his wife Nancy. Charles was a member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the 82nd Airborne Division association (America's Guard of Honor)

Charles and Nancy enjoyed dancing. They combined the jitterbug, the fox trot, rock and country music to form their own step. Charles would always say, "my wife Nancy makes us look good on the dance floor." Charles, along with his brother are 10-gallon blood donors at the Marathon County Blood Bank. Charles and Nancy were members of St. Matthew's Evangelical Church and very proud of it.

Charles is survived by his two sons, Kirk (Viveca) of Albuquerque, Barry (Roxanne) of Marathon; two brothers Raymond (Virjean) of Schofield, William (Pat) of Wausau; two sisters Margie (Al) Barton of Rothschild, Mary (JR) Jaecks of Weston; sister in-law, Bonnie (Duwayne) Graveen; 5 grandchildren Heidi (Dan) Huebner of Rothschild, Jessi (James) Pestka of Athens, Trevor (Brittney) Burger of Green Bay, Amanda (Paul) Loy-Kasprzycki of Kronenwetter, Benjamin (Tiffany) Loy of Marathon; 12 great grandchildren Joelle and Marah Huebner, Cameron, Riley and Holden Pestka, Everlee Burger, Jordan and Jase Loy, and Dylan, Bentley, Amelia and Ava Loy.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Bruno and Senta (Radant) Loy; his wife, Nancy (Graveen) Loy; brothers Robert, James, and Allan (Shirley) Wilde; sisters, Nancy (Levi Prechel - Vern Krueger), Betty (Stanley) Beilke; son, Micahel Loy; daughter, Pamela (Loy) Doan; sister in-laws, Carol (William) Zastrow, Margie (Neil) Archie, Darlo (John) Akey; brother in-law, Duwayne Graveen.

A celebration of life for Charles will be held at Stettin Town Hall (141678 Stettin Dr, Wausau, WI 54401) on July 19th, 2025, from 1-4pm.

Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is currently assisting the family. Online condolences can be expressed at MWCS.WS.