Charles "Charlie" A. Ward

life story

About Charlie

Charles A. Ward died at his home in Andover on Saturday, October 11, 2025. He was 71 years old.

Charlie was born June 14, 1954. He was intellectually disabled since birth, and his life proved the adage that “it takes a village.” He is survived by his mother, Bernice Ward, and his brothers and sisters, Tim, Erin, Terry, and Cathy. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles F. Ward, and his older brother, Leo. For the last 25 years of his life, Charlie lived in a group home in Andover, and he is also survived and mourned by his family there - Laurie, Robbie, and Kim, who made the house a true “home.” Charlie’s group home family also includes many staff members, especially Ola, who used patience and good humor in just the right proportions to keep Charlie focused. Charlie worked at Achieve Services, Inc., a sheltered workshop for disabled adults, for 49 years, until the day before he died. Achieve gave him purpose, support, and friendship, and he loved his job there. Charlie also benefited throughout his life from the care of Anoka County social workers. The Ward family is deeply grateful to his group home family, everyone at Achieve, the Anoka County social workers, and the entire village that supported and shepherded Charlie during his life.

Charlie was an avid fan of sports, but especially All-Star wrestling. He was rarely without a transistor radio in his hand or at his ear; WCCO radio has never had a more loyal listener. He didn’t really understand or care about money, but he was exceedingly fond of quarters. He didn’t play cards, but he always kept a deck in his pocket. He loved ice cream so much that a chocolate shake made everything around him disappear. He enjoyed going shopping just so he could walk around the stores and inspect the goods. Trips to Pizza Ranch were a favorite outing, and his friend Blaze took him there for the last time just days before he died. Charlie was a happy man, he was quirky, funny, and stubborn, he was one of a kind, and he was loved.

memorial service

Burial Service

November 13, 2025

Fort Snelling National Cemetery 7601 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55450, USA

A burial service will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Attendees should enter Gate 2 off of northbound 34th Avenue S., then proceed to Assembly Area 4. (Please note that Google maps directs users to various gates into the cemetery depending on the starting point; if you are using electronic mapping, look for the signs for Gate 2 and enter there.) Everyone attending must be in line in Assembly Area 4 no later than 1:45 p.m. The service will last 15 minutes, then cemetery staff will require everyone in attendance to leave the site. Charlie's family will host a reception immediately following the service, and all are invited to attend. The reception will be in the community room at The Plaza apartments, 2353 Youngman Avenue, Saint Paul.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services