Charles O. Golay

Charles O. Golay, age 82, of Coon Rapids, Iowa passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at Thomas Rest Haven Nursing Home in Coon Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids with Rev. Joyce Webb officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 P.M. on Tuesday at the Johnson and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids. The casket will be moved to the church at 8:30 A.M. on Wednesday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Casket bearers will be Chuck’s son Brad, his son-in-law Marty Balukoff, and his grandchildren: Matt Fortner, Andy Skiles, Trey Dickinson, Nathan Balukoff, Cole Golay, Sam Balukoff, and Trenton Golay. Burial will be in the Orange Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids with military honors by the Coon Rapids American Legion. Born on May 5, 1932 in Huxley, Iowa, he was the son of Roy and Clarice (Flowers) Golay. He grew up in Huxley where he attended school. His family moved to Coon Rapids in 1947 and he worked for Paul Alex Feed Company. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and served for two years during the Korean War. Chuck worked as a Police officer for the city of Coon Rapids following his service in the military. He was married to Mildred (Long) Child on September 16, 1956 at the United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids. He then worked for Linn’s Feed Service prior to starting his own business grinding feed. He purchased Hague’s Hatchery in downtown Coon Rapids naming his new business Farm Center. He later rebuilt the Farm Center as a feed mill and store on the west edge of Coon Rapids and operated it for over fifty years. He also raised hogs, farmed, and owned and operated a gravel pit. He was a member of the Coon Rapids United Methodist Church and the Coon Rapids American Legion. Chuck enjoyed working hard and spending time with his family. He had a kind and generous heart and would go out of his way to help anyone in need. He was very competitive and liked playing games, cards, and following sports. Surviving are his wife of 57 years Mildred Golay of Coon Rapids; a son Brad Golay and his wife Linda of Rural Glidden; three daughters: Pam Dickinson of Glidden, Penny Skiles of Waterloo, Iowa, and Natalie Balukoff and her husband Marty of Ankeny, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter; three sisters: Kay Yager and her husband Jerry of Coon Rapids, Marilyn Carpenter of Coon Rapids, and Marie Wall of Collins, Iowa; a brother Jim Golay and his wife Carmen of La Mirada, California; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers: Bill, Ernie, Paul, Robert, and Dick, and three sisters: Edna Doubleday, Nancy Johnson, and Ruth Floden.