June 12, 1945 – March 7, 2026
Charles Ray “Chuck” Conroy, 80, passed away March 7, 2026 and has gone to be with his Lord God.
Family will greet friends and relatives from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 1st Ave. North, Clear Lake, IA 50428.
Private family services will be held with military honors presented by the Clear Lake VFW.
Memorials requested to go to the Clear Lake Public Library.
Charles was born June 12, 1945 in Mason City, Iowa to Walter and Donnabelle (Savage) Conroy and attended Clear Lake schools graduating in 1963. In 1951, Chris Axelsen became his and brother Jim’s “dad”. Chuck loved living close to the lake and spent much of his life in the water, on the water and on the ice. Chuck enlisted in the United States Navy after high school, graduated from Interior Communications Electrician school and then served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CVA-14) from April 1964 until June 1967 doing three tours in Vietnam.
In 1968, he married Pat Hammitt and was joined to three sons, Todd L. Jeffery L. and Troy D. Conroy. In 1990, he married Nancy A. Selindh and daughters Shelley and Darcy. He spent the rest of his life with Nancy, the “light in his life”.
Chuck enjoyed hunting, fishing, working on houses, wood projects, yard work and those pesky weeds. He loved planting flowers in the spring.
Chuck leaves behind his wife Nancy; sons, Jeff (Heidi) Conroy of Mason City and Troy
(Michelle) Conroy of North Carolina; daughters, Shelley Frangenberg of Ankeny and Darcy (Mike) Stroinski of Ankeny; grandchildren, Seth Conroy (Claire), Jadon Conroy (Sierra) and Tyler Frangenberg (Sophie); brother, Rick Axelsen; as well as several nephews, nieces and extended family.
Preceding him in death are his father, Walter; dad, Chris; mother, Donna; brothers, Tom Axelsen, James Conroy and John Axelsen; sister, Dawn Drydale; son Todd Conroy of Missouri; daughter-in-law Lori and nephew Jarad Axelsen and niece Chassidy Axelsen.
Chuck’s family would like to thank the great staff at Oakwood Care Center, The Courtyard Assisted Living, special niece and nephew Darren and Becky Hewett, special cousins Bruce and Diane Rich, and special neighbors Dave and Kathy Pueggel who all went above and beyond during Chuck’s journey.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel. 641-357-2193.
ColonialChapels.com