“Helping those in need. It didn’t matter what. He was always there to help. I don’t ever remember him saying ‘no’ to anyone. That’s who Dad was.” - Shannon (Waggoner) Baxter.

Chuck Waggoner, rural Parsons and an aficionado of helping others before himself, died following a long battle with health issues with his family by his side on Monday, August 12, 2024 at Labette Health.

Charles Ray (Chuck) Waggoner was born on Sunday, July 11, 1943 in Anthony, Kan., to J.C. and Agnes (Miller) Waggoner. In 1950, the family moved from Hazelton to rural Parsons where Chuck and his two sisters and brother helped on the family farm.

During gym class one day his freshman year at Labette County High School, Dee Steeby noticed a particular boy across the hardwood. “See that boy over there?” she told a friend. “I’m going to marry him someday.” Chuck and Dee didn’t date anyone else.

“He never had a chance,” Dee recalled earlier this week with a laugh and smile. “He was a goner from the beginning.”

Upon his 1961 graduation from LCHS, Chuck entered the United States Air Force and was stationed as an Airman in Amarillo, Texas. One year later, on June 23, 1962 two high school sweethearts became one with God as Chuck and Dee exchanged their vows before God and family at the old Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons.

To this Union were born DeNa, Shannon and Darin.

Chuck dubiously served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1969. He was also stationed as a Sergeant at Ankara, Turkey, and Bolling AFB in Washington, DC and the Pentagon both as a Staff Sergeant. While in Turkey, Chuck and Dee visited several countries including the Holy Land, Germany, Jordan, Italy, and Greece.

Following his military discharge, Chuck and Dee moved to Manhattan where Chuck enrolled in Agriculture Economics at Kansas State University where he received his 1973 bachelor’s degree.

Chuck began a prosperous 17-year career with Federal Land Banks in Chanute (73-75), Eureka (75-78) and Ottawa (78-85). Chuck and Dee returned to Manhattan in 1985 when Chuck became vice-president of real estate with Farm Bureau Insurance. From 1989 to 1994, he was a loan officer for Federal Home Loan Bank in Topeka.

The family moved to rural Parsons in 1994 when Chuck became VP of Commercial Bank, a position he held until his retirement on February 11, 2011.

But Chuck’s Golden Years wouldn’t involve a rocking chair. He took on a role with Bowen Pharmacy in Parsons where he proudly took the role of Handy Man to another level. He thoroughly savored and enjoyed his time working with their staff and patrons.

Chuck was a member of Habitat For Humanity, Kiwanis Club, United Methodist Church Mission Team, Wesley UMC finance committee, Grab N Go team that served over 200 free meals to Labette Countians and volunteered over 25 years at Camp Chippewa near Ottawa where he loved taking his log splitter every spring and cut firewood for the summer’s campfires. While in Ottawa, Chuck and Dee square-danced with the Ottawa Promenaders.

Chuck loved golfing, fishing, hunting, playing softball, camping and K-State athletics. He helped start a girls softball league in Ottawa. He played and coached softball for over 40 years.

Chuck also created the Bridge Campground at Big Hill Lake where people could ride horses on the lake’s grounds. That program, with Chuck’s guidance, now features 13 spots where people can camp for a few days and ride horses. “He loved to go out there and socialize with people and help out with electrical issues or whatever needed attention,” daughter Shannon said.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Ray’lee.

Survivors include Dee of the home, daughters DeNa of Riley, Kan., and Shannon Baxter of Parsons and son Darin (Tana) of Skiatook, Okla. Surviving grandchildren include Lee Wehkamp (Alisha) of Ingalls, Kan., Kolton Baxter of Parsons, Madison Waggoner of Skiatook, Nichole (Connor) Buchanan of Mesa, Ariz., Michael Schurle of Skiatook, Ashton Anderson of Cheyenne, Wyo., Megan Cederstrom of Chandler, Ariz., four great-grandchildren Maverick Wehkamp of Ingalls, Rylee Wehkamp of Ingalls, Evelyn Anderson of Skiatook and Sweetheart Schurle of Jacksonville, NC and siblings Carol (Frank) Rohrbough of Altamont, Alice (Robert) Bradbury of Neosho, Mo., and brother Fred (Peggy) of Kansas City, Kan., along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 pm on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Services are scheduled for 1 pm Saturday, August 17 at the church. Burial will follow with military honors conducted by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704 VFW at Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials for an educational fund for his grandkids and great-grandchildren as education was important to Chuck. Donations may be sent to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, PO Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Chuck lived life to its fullest in his 81 years and one month on Planet Earth. He was a second-generation farmer and rancher who loved his 1 Simmental bull, 19 cows and 15 calves. In his final days, Chuck would gingerly walk towards the gate into his pasture, place a foot on the gate and just take in the beauty that was to him a prelude to Heaven - watching his cows grazing on the fertile Labette County soils. God now has Chuck on 24-hour patrol of His Herd in Heaven, a position which he has toiled his life for here on Earth. As Chuck walked through those Great Pearly Gates Above this week, God greeted him with the words we all hope to hear someday - “well done thy faithful servant.”