Charles J. Converse

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch for Charles J. (Chuck) Converse, 58, of West Branch who died October 12,2008 at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday, October 14 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Mr. Converse was born May 2, 1950 in Utica, NY to Frederick and Eunice (McEwan) Converse. He graduated from Battle Creek, MI Lakeview High School in 1968 and then attended Ferris State University from 1968-1973 graduating with a BS in Pharmacy. He married Brooke Ann Graham on August 22, 1970 in Petoskey. Mr. Converse moved to West Branch in 1978 and in 1979 purchased Parliament Pharmacy in West Branch which he operated until 1996 when it merged with Pioneer Family Pharmacy. He was an active partner in that business at the time of his death. He was a member of the Michigan Pharmacist Association, the West Branch Optimist Club, and was chairman of the Medical Arts Center of the John Tolfree Health Systems for several years. He loved to hunt and fish and was a member of the West Branch Country Club. He also enjoyed motorcycling and had participated in productions of the Ogemaw Community Players. His passions, though, were his family and his service to his community. Mr. Converse is survived by his wife Brooke of West Branch; two sons, Brandon T. (Theresa) of Grand Rapids, MI, and Cory G. (Sarah) Fox-Converse of West Branch; five grandchildren, Zaria, Emily, Azalea, Hunter and Charles; his mother Eunice of Byron Center, MI; four brothers, Gary (Jane) of Battle Creek, MI, Stephen (Pam) of Malvern, PA, Rick (Sue) of Denver, CO and John (Dawn) of Wyoming, MI; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Tim Hastings, M.Div. with burial in Brookside Cemetery in West Branch. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Helping Hands or the Tolfree Foundation.