In Loving Memory of Charles “Chuck” Eugene Norbert Rosene
Charles “Chuck” Eugene Norbert Rosene, born on August 14, 1937 in St. Louis, he departed May 16, 2025. While his early years coincided with the depths of the Great Depression, the hardships he endured along with his brothers and sisters taught him the value of hard work, service to his community, and great generosity to others yet frugality to himself.
He spent his adolescent years at Boys Town of St. James. His strong work ethic, and his intrinsic values of duty and responsibility did not go unnoticed by his peers, who soon elected him Mayor. There, he learned how to raise cattle, chickens, and grow crops, all while caring for his two favorite mules and a mischievous cocker spaniel. These hardscrabble years taught him how to hustle, whether it was for an extra egg, or potato, always ensuring no one went without food, ensuring the welfare of others before worrying about himself.
After his service in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War, he returned home to St. Louis, to live a life marked not just by resilience and impact, but also by quiet humility and compassion. He served as a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts and helped boys become men while allowing the boys to be boys. He coached baseball and basketball and was a mentor to those who had no father figure in their lives. He took pride in helping others to prosper and to thrive to reach their potential.
He was happiest when he was teaching his trade to others knowing that the people he helped would be better off “doing it yourself so you can appreciate what you did.” He taught classes at technical colleges and put people to work as owner operators in the trucking industry. But it was not simply technical knowledge he imparted. It was the life lessons and wisdom along with a strong work ethic and values that were deeply embedded in his very being.
Chuck always helped others, but didn’t do it for them. He impacted many lives by facilitating success, whether by helping them in business or by making sure they had a place to live or putting food on their table. If he had a motto, it was “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. He let his belief in The Great One guide his actions.
Those who knew Chuck will remember his wit, his stories, his love of the outdoors, and his faith. Although he has shed his earthly body and is no longer physically here, his soul lives on in so many ways through his teachings and the fond memories we will all carry with us. His own Mission was to help others through love and prayer, and he found great comfort in knowing and saying that “Jesus Loves Me.” We all know that Chuck is in heaven, using his resourcefulness to help The Great One in eternity.
It is not possible to list all those by whom Chuck is survived by. He was a man of action, not just words—a true example of dedication, resilience, and love, a man I was proud to call my father.
Visitation will be held at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, Missouri, 63123, on May 27, 2025, from 5–7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Kutis on May 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a procession to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
We invite all to gather after the service to celebrate Chuck’s life at the Elks Lodge in Florissant, Missouri, 16400 New Halls Ferry Road, 63031. Please bring your stories and laughter— that’s what Chuck would want most. In honor of Chuck’s life, the family encourages acts of kindness: donate to Boys Town of St. James, your local food pantry, or simply help someone in need.