Final Salute

On May 1, 2025, Charles Michael Duffert celebrated 44 years of marriage to his “Celtic Princess” and unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord in the midst of a grand adventure in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Charles was born on August 23, 1947, in St. Paul, MN to Shirley McClain. Charles spent most of his childhood in Balsam Lake, WI with his grandparents, Charles and Helga McClain, who greatly influenced his entire life and introduced him to Jesus Christ at a very young age, to whom he gave his life at the age of five.

Charles graduated from Unity High School in Balsam Lake in 1965 and then enlisted with the US Navy in 1966. He served as a radioman on the USS Patapsco in the Vietnam War and then went to the University of Minnesota in 1970 where he earned a degree in soil science. He later went on to graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It was at that time that he met Kathy Surface in the church choir and never looked back.

Charles and Kathleen married in 1981 and had three children, Erin, Lauren and McClain.

Charles reenlisted in the US Navy in 1987 and very proudly served with the Seabees until his military retirement in 2001.

Charles’ career path was as varied as it was interesting. In his lifetime and in no particular order, he worked at a paint factory, a luggage factory, pineapple juice factory, as a railroad gandy dancer, farm truck driver, school bus driver, soil scientist, consulting and lean manufacturing expert and authored a book called, Lean Ministry.

After his professional retirement, Charles spent time ministering in Tanzania and then joined the worship team at church and built strong connections serving Highland Community Church for the past six years. He loved playing music in worship of his King and recorded an album of his favorite songs. He spent much of his time journaling, praying, mentoring men from church and enjoyed learning to speak Spanish.

Charles loved adventure and new experiences—he lived to share them with the people he loved. He loved to be together. He sought ongoing improvement in all aspects of his life…and sometimes ours. He often said he wanted to live until he died.

The man with the plan and the mustache comb was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles Clifford and Helga McClain; uncle and aunt, Charles and Raenelle McClain; father-in-law, Keith Surface; mother, Shirley McClain; and cousin, Elizabeth Roberts.

Charles is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Surface) Duffert, whose happiness was his only concern; beloved children, Erin (Richard) Desvousges, Lauren (Ryan) Krebsbach, and McClain (Kate) Duffert; grandchildren, Shirley, Richard and Brynn Desvousges, Charlotte and Harrison Krebsbach, and Aberdeen Duffert; in-laws, Jean Surface, Kevin and Paula Surface, Dave and Kris Meyensberg; many nieces and nephews and Roberts cousins.

Charles will be dearly missed, yet we grieve with hope in everlasting life with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Services are pending at this time – please return to view service details as they are made available.

Ascend Funeral Home & Cremation Care of Weston is assisting Charles’ family with arrangements. You may sign the family guestbook at www.ascendweston.org.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Michael Duffert, please visit our flower store.