Charles F Wechter

HURON - Charles “Charlie” Wechter, 84, of Huron, died Sunday October 25, at Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky.

He was born in Huron on January 4, 1936.

A lifelong Huronite, Charlie was the oldest of Carl and Mary Catherine  (Zipfel) Wechter’s nine children. He is best remembered for those years he managed his family owned business “The Pied Piper”, a Huron Landmark.  Charlie loved his work and greeted customers with a smile and friendly greeting, making you want to return again and again!

Earlier, Charlie helped his dad at the Huron Dairy, a family owned dairy, remembered by many older residents as the days of horse drawn milk wagons and door to door delivery. The dairy was sold to Esmond Dairy in 1976. Charlie worked for the new dairy for several years before taking the helm of the Pied Piper.

A 1955 graduate of Huron High School, Charlie is remembered by classmates as friendly, outgoing, but most of all, he is remembered for his willingness to help anytime help was needed, an attribute he maintained throughout his life.  A member of the 1953 Huron High football State championship team, Charlie never wanted headlines, he was a six foot, 190 pound imposing tackle, helping the Huron Tiger football team to victory.

After graduation Charlie was a member of the Ohio National Guard. He was an organ donor.

Charlie owned and operated The Huron River Valley Camp Ground from 1969 – 1995, he also operated The Pied Piper Fishing Charter Service from 1987- 2002.

After retiring from the Pied Piper in 2002, Charlie stayed active, creating fishing lures for customers in a three state area. This work started as a hobby and grew rapidly making it necessary to hire assistants. It was a work he loved.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mary Catherine (Zipfel) Wechter; a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Mary, in infancy. 

He is survived by two sons, Gary Wechter, of Perkins, and Dennis (Gail) Wechter, of Huron;  two granddaughters, Samantha (Austin) Maddox, of Petersburg MI, Danielle (Charlie) Hice, of Huron; one great grandson, Dylan Hice, of Huron; step-grandson, Dwayne Costa, of Canal Winchester, OH; step-granddaughter, Mallory Costa, of Grove City, OH; five sisters, Marianne (Richard) Romell, of Huron, Nancy Wechter, of Huron, Carol Graff, of Leesburg, IN, Rose (David ) Peterson, of Venice, FL., Connie (Robert) Dubois, of Milford, OH; one brother, Christopher (Kelly) Wechter, of Huron; is also survived by his companion Kim Nolen, her sons Rob, Sean, and grandson, Sean Jr.; and other relatives and many friends.

There will be a private family service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Back to The Wild, 4504 Bardshar Road, Castalia, OH 44824

Online condolences may be shared at fosterfh.com.

Foster Funeral Home & Crematory, Huron, is assisting the family.

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