Charles Wissenbach

Pinesdale - Our beloved Charles Erhard Wissenbach, 91, passed away surrounded by family on Monday, September 22, 2025 at his home in Pinesdale, Montana after a long battle with cancer. Charles was born on May 31, 1934 in Clinton, Massachusetts and raised in Bolton, Massachusetts. Son of the late Charles Fredrick Wissenbach and the late Flora Emily Hoffman Wissenbach, both of German heritage, his father being an immigrant from Germany.

Charles loved to garden- oh, yes, he loved to garden. He had a large garden which he and his wife grew with their children and also designed and worked on the community garden in Pinesdale, Montana.

Charles was quite an intellectual and an avid book reader. He used to say that he probably read every book in the little public library where he grew up. He had a very charismatic personality.

Dad attended 1st grade in the two room Emerson School in Bolton, MA. He attended three different high schools in Massachusetts, including one in Hudson and one in Clinton. He attended the WMUA college in Amherst, Massachusetts where he was radio station manager.

His first job was working for Jock Davis at Bolton Orchards.

He married his college sweetheart, Mary Eleanor Chase, whom he met at the radio station on campus. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the United States Army and they relocated to Louisiana where he was stationed for the duration of his service.

Charles was a 4-H County Extension Agent for 10 years in Worcester and Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts (while he was living at the family farm in Haydenville, MA). He served as an Agricultural Advisor for the United States Government in Vietnam. This experience was a major highlight of his life.

Later in life, Charles and Mary and children lived in Provo, Utah and then moved to Pinesdale, Montana.

Charles was loyal to his associates and knew how to keep a confidence and if he said he was going to do something he did it. He was known to battle for the underdog.

Charles was loved by his family, friends, and community. He is survived by his wife Mary of Pinesdale and his children, his younger brother Richard, numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at the Pinesdale Chapel on Saturday, October 4, 2025 with the viewings on Friday, October 3, 2025 from 6:30-8:00 pm and Saturday October 4th from 8:30-9:30 am. The family prayer will be 9:40 am with the funeral following immediately thereafter at 10:00 am.