Charles W. Juntunen, 88, a longtime resident of the Clear Lake community passed away on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Mount Vernon, WA.
Chuck was born on September 24, 1931, the son of William & Dorothy (Kangas) Juntunen in Painesdale, Michigan. He started his schooling in Michigan and later when they moved to the Adirondack Mountains, he finished his schooling in Chateaugay NY.
During his years in the Adirondack mountains, Chuck enjoyed running a trapline in the winters and in the summers he was a deep woods camp counselor at Indian Point on Chateaugay Lake.
In 1951, Chuck went to the Korean War. After his discharge in 1953, he returned to New York where he studied at State University of New York. He received a Bachelor of Science Education degree and taught for a couple of years at the Chazy Rural School.
In 1958, Chuck moved to the Skagit Valley and began a long career with the Sedro- Woolley School District, teaching for 31 years. During these years, he also kept busy as a Boy Scout leader in Sedro-Woolley.
In 1972, Chuck married Susan Floyd who was also teaching at Central School and they made their home in Clear Lake for the past 48 years.
Chuck was a naturalist, artist, and outdoorsman with a deep respect for animals and the cycle of life. With teaching as a career, he had summers to canoe. In 1959, Chuck made a journey of 1,200 miles by canoe in the Canadian arctic. He returned eight additional summers to the Arctic to canoe and learn about the Inuit art forms. He loved creating art that was inspired by the north woods. Painting and carving were life long passions.
Chuck, who was so kind and thoughtful and inspiring, is survived by his wife, Sue; 2 daughters, Maren Matts and husband, Dan of Seattle, and Kirsten Juntunen and husband, Jon Cooley of Costa Rica; grandchildren, Caelan, Jade, Karina, and Knox with a fifth due shortly; his sister, Carol Lowery of Plattsburgh, NY; sister-in-law, Joan Juntunen of Lyon Mountain, NY and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother, Jerry Juntunen.
No services will be held at the time. Memorials in honor of Chuck are suggested to the Alaska Conservation Foundation for the Arctic Refuge. alaskaconservation.org/take-action/donate/ Cremation arrangements are under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Chuck and sign the online guest register.
Chuck is a quiet, gentle soul. The “present tense” slipped out without thinking, as Chuck will always be “present” in the hearts of those who knew him.
It was a privilege to have Chuck share his life with us. Cross-country skiing, canoeing, hiking. His painting. His carving. His stories. His beautiful garden where every turn around the corner was a pause of beauty and calm that echoed his own.
We will miss Chuck, but we will never forget who he was, and how much of himself he left behind – for all of us.
Condolences to the family with love,
Carol and Frank Schultz
So sorry to hear this news. I think of Chuck often, as I shared an office space with him at Evergreen Elementary School back in the day….he was such a kind, sincere, and soft-spoken man. He would often have a soap stone project he was carving in his class and it was magic seeing it come alive. There something comforting, for students and staff, about running your hands over the stone as an bird emerged. I had one of his cards, of an eagle, on my desk all the years I worked, for its beauty and for his kindness to me as I was finding my footing. My heart goes out to Sue and his family, I know he was very proud of you all.
My Scoutmaster late 50’s, early 60’s. A great influence on many.
Dale & I moved to Clear Lake on Buchanan in the fall of 1972. We met Sue & Chuck that very same year. They were are neighbors. We loved living in Clear Lake & loved watching the handy work of Chuck. To this day I still have cards that he made for me & a neckless.
Thanks for all the great memories .
Joan, We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time!
We first met Chuck and Sue in 1983, when they stayed at our parents’ vacation farm, near Oakbank Manitoba. We so enjoyed our time together and knew we wanted to maintain a friendship with them. The following years included a climb up Mt Baker, several visits to Washington, and hiking together in the Canadian Rockies. A favourite memory was while on a whirlwind tour of the Cascade Loop, Chuck’s girls asking him. ‘What’s the plan, dad?’ His reply was, ‘We have many plans.’ The girls were somehow satisfied by his answer and did not ask again. We so admired Chuck’s immense talents – carving, horticulture, painting, and all that goes with being an outdoorsman. It was our honour to know you, Chuck. Sue, Maren, Kirsten & Family, our love and prayers are with you.
I met Charlie in the Summer of 1949 while staying for a few weeks with my Grandparents at their farm near The Lake. Charlie would have breakfast with us. He came to help my Grandma Nellie and my one armed Pa. He took my brother, my cousin and me camping. In the woods he fed us and himself with trout he caught from the brook by being quiet and scooping the fish from pools. We also had frog legs and wild potatoes. Later in the week while we swam along the shore Charlie swam The Lake and returned with birch bark, dry above his head, swimming The Lake one-handed. The following week we received a birch bark letter from Charlie. This was just one of our adventures with Charlie ! Charlie was a wonderful example for us and he was unforgettable.
As it happens in life, such peculiarities and wonders and grandness….only have meaning because of loss. Mr. Juntunen as I knew him, was my second grade elective art class instructor at Evergreen Elementary School. It was an exclusive class, no idea why I was in it but immensely enjoyed it because of him. This would have been 1983, and you can only deduce that he left an impression on me, for what little time I spent with him, at such a young age, so long ago. Yet only three weeks ago while leaving time at a thrift store in Anacortes, there high on a wall and dust coated I found a soaring eagle mountain scape print in a modest frame for only $20 – signed Juntunen.
so sorry for your loss.
Dearest Sue,
We go so far back. I was at your wedding-you and Chuck such a perfect fit. You lived, loved, explored, created, shared, planted, preserved, protected and loved everyone and every living thing. So amazing a life the two of you had. May Chuck rest in Gods amazing hands and may you and the girls rest in Gods amazing grace and give you all peace that will never disappoint. Love and prayers, Anneliese
I send my deepest condolences to Susan and family. Chuck had a profound inpact on my life, first when I was a boy scout, and then when we worked together creating Liturgical Art for our local church. I am grateful that he was in my life, and will recall fondly many memories of the special times we shared. Godspeed good and faithful servant.
Sorry to hear the passing of Chuck Juntunen. I had the privilege of teaching with him. Chuck was an outstanding person. He was an adventurist, a talented artist,a true friend.very special person in every way. RIP Chuck.!
Mr. Juntunen was my all time favorite teacher. When a few of us blew up some chemicals during science class. He grabbed his paddle and took us into the hall way and laughed at us. He made us promise to say we got paddled. He had a lifetime positive effect on me. I’ll always remember him.
I grew up in Clear Lake near Mr Juntunen and we loved trick or treating at his house because he gave out full sized butterfinger bars! I also babysat his daughters when I was in high school. He was a great teacher, artist and neighbor. Prayers to his family.