Charles Geri Degenstein

Charles Geri Degen-

stein, 64 of Washburn

passed away May 31,

2020 at his residence.

Mass of Christian Burial

will be held at 10:00 AM

Thursday, June 4, 2020 at

St. Edwin’s Catholic

Church, Washburn. Cre-

mation has taken place

and inurnment will take

place at 2:00 PM Thurs-

day at the North Dakota

Veterans Cemetery.

Charles Geri was born

Nov. 17, 1955 to Lloyd

and Helen (Streifel) De-

genstein in Minot, North

Dakota He lived his early

years and attended grade

school in Drake, North

Dakota. He graduated

from Harvey High School

in 1974. During his

senior year, he and two

classmates enlisted in the

U.S. Navy on the so

called, “Buddy Plan”, for a

4 year tour of duty. His

basic training was at San

Diego and Great Lakes Na-

val Training Stations. His

height gave him the

privilege to be selected for

the Naval Flag Team.

After basic training he

was assigned to the USS

Long Beach and stationed

in San Diego.

After his discharge, he

returned to Harvey and

was employed by the

Canadian Pacific (Soo

Line). To start with he

was a traveling agent,

where he did relief work

at various depots. Later he

was stationed at Hankin-

son, Harvey, and Portal. It

was there that he met the

love of his life, Jodi Ellis.

They were happily mar-

ried for 10 years until Jodi

lost her battle to cancer.

Shortly after in 2014,

Charles retired and moved

to Washburn, North Dako-

ta.

Sir Charles was a fun

loving gentleman with a

heart of gold. He had a

hug and a smile for every-

one. It was his magnetic

personality that made

everyone his friend. His

pastime hobbies involved

Casino runs, Words with

Friends, Farmville, NAS-

CAR and the Miami Dol-

phins.

He was a member of the

Railroad Retirement Asso-

ciation, Washburn Ameri-

can Legion, Harvey Ea-

gles, Harvey Knights of

Columbus, and the Man-

tador VFW.

Charles is survived by

his mother, Helen of Har-

vey; his brother Brady

(Neda) of Washburn;

many aunts and uncles,

and numerous nieces and

nephews.

He was preceded in

death by his wife Jodi, his

father Lloyd, paternal

grandparents Charles and

Mary Degenstein, and

maternal grandparents

Paul and Margaret

Streifel.

In lieu of flowers the

family prefers memorials

to the North Dakota

Veterans Cemetery.

Please visit

www.goetzfuneralhomes.

com to sign the online

guestbook and share

memories of Charles with

his family.

(Goetz Funeral Home –

Washburn)