After 98 years of life, Charles Cowley Monk passed away on Feb. 4, 2022. He was surrounded with love in his last days byhis family and friends. Charles was a man filled with optimism, kindness, good humor, an insatiable appetite for learning, and devotion to family, to his wife, Nancy, and to God.

Charles was born on April 1, 1923 in a small log cabin in the farming community of Cowley, Wyoming. He was the second of 8 children born to John David and Nancy Pauline Cowley Monk.  When World War II was in full force, he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific as a radio technician. Upon returning home, he attended a dance and met a pretty redhead named Merica "Marcia" Brinkerhoff. They married on Dec. 31, 1948.

Within a year, the newlyweds had their first child and moved to Wisconsin so Charles could attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Little did they know that this was a permanent move and Wisconsin would become their happy home for the rest of their lives. They had 5 more children, cultivated many life-long friendships, and played a prominent role in their community. Charles served as bishop, stake president, regional representative, and temple sealer in their church, though "Sunday School teacher" was always his favorite calling. He also ran a successful custom electronics business which he and his partners bought and developed.

After the family grew and the children left home for college, for missions, and to start families of their own, Marcia was diagnosed with cancer. Charles was her tireless and loving caregiver for several years until her death in 1991.

A year later he met his sweetheart, Nancy Bousquet, at church.They were sealed in the Chicago Temple on April 1, 1994.Together they built a happy life of family, travel, church service, and temple service.

Charles is survived by his wife, Nancy; sister, Rhea Perry; children Pam (Wayne) Schaefer, Debra (Chad) Fugate, Jinelle Monk, Jodee (Randal) Thomas, Randall (Alex) Monk, and Rebecca (Wade) Denna; stepchildren Joel (Rowena) Swetish and Laurel Lynch; 24 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and countless nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at noon, February 12, with Visitation starting at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 9600 W. Grange Avenue, Hales Corners, Wisconsin. A graveside service will take place the following Saturday, February 19, 1 pm, at the Cowley, Wyoming cemetery.

If you wish to make a memorial donation in the name of Charles Monk, please give to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Humanitarian Fund.

The funeral service will also be broadcast via Zoom and YouTube. We strongly encourage you to wear masks, even if vaccinated. Please follow CDC guidelines, especially if you have tested positive for COVID. Stay home and watch on Zoom or YouTube if you are sick in any way. Hand sanitizer will be available. The Zoom Video link is: https://zoom.us/j/95234905853 (click on the link, follow the instructions)

Zoom Phone dial-in: 312-626-6799, then Webinar ID: 952 3490 5853 on your keypad when prompted. For participant ID enter # after the last prompt. The YouTube link is: https://youtu.be/0wVItApLahI

We would like to thank David Rebarchik for his offer of service with the Zoom and YouTube connections, we appreciate that very much.