Charles Kohnke

Charles J. Kohnke 87, Wahpeton, ND, died Sunday, December 26, 2010 at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge, MN. The Funeral Mass will be Thursday, December 30, 11:00 a.m., at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton, with Rev. Dale Lagodinski as celebrant. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5 PM to 7 PM with a 6 PM Prayer Vigil, followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton and visitation will also be one hour before the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Wahpeton.

Charles J. Kohnke was born July 4, 1923 at Wahpeton, ND the son of Joseph and Mary (Klick) Kohnke. He grew up in Wahpeton, where he attended St. John's elementary school and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1941, where he participated in tennis and music. He attended NDSCS and later graduated from St. John's University, Collegeville, MN in Economics in 1948. He worked at St. John's in the Treasurer's Department and taught until 1950 when he was employed with Jeno Paulucci's Chun King Sales in Duluth, MN, as an administrative assistant until 1961. He opened and operated the "Barn Steak House" in Costa Mesa, CA, which featured Midwestern portions with old fashion rural décor and personal service, featuring his famous 24 oz porterhouse, claimed to be "largest served in the West". His sister, Helen was one of his mainstays at the restaurant for several years. He retired in 1994 to live closer to his other sister Bernice Caspers and his nephews. He lived at 4th Avenue Manor in Wahpeton until entering St. Catherine's Living Center in 2007. Chuck was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton and the Knights of Columbus.

Chuck enjoyed musical entertainment and was an avid sports enthusiast often attending a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game (formerly Minneapolis Lakers). Although living on the west coast for several years he remained loyal to the Big Ten (especially the U of M), losing many a wager with his customers on the outcome of the Rose Bowl. One of his more recent sport highlights was watching in person St. John's University football coach John Gagliardi surpass Paul "Bear" Bryant in football wins.

He was very popular with his nieces and nephews, always bringing them presents and never forgetting their birthdays. He was very thoughtful and generous to his mother and would often have her come to stay with him in Orange County during the long cold winters.

Chuck is survived by his six nephews, Robert (Sandy) Caspers and Woody (Connie) Caspers, both Ottertail Lake, MN; Craig (Sue) Caspers, Wahpeton; Brian (Sharon) Caspers, Fargo; Dick (Julie) Caspers, Dallas, TX; and Joel (Audrey) Caspers, Tempe, AZ; his two nieces: Joan (Jamie) Gray, Perris, CA; Jennifer (Jim) Langrill, Indio, CA and several great nieces and nephews.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Minnie Kohnke; his brother, Wilbur Kohnke, his sisters, Helen Thompson, and Bernice Caspers, December 4, 2010.