Charles Bresnahan

Charles T. Bresnahan, 76, of Spring Grove, Minn., died Monday, May 15, 2023, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Iowa. Memorial services will be held Thursday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. John Moser officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church on Thursday. Burial will be held at a later date at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waukon. Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements. 

Charles Theodore Bresnahan was born October 3, 1946, in Waukon, Iowa, the son of Lawrence and Leonita (Haas) Bresnahan. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon and graduated from St. Pat’s High School. Charlie went to work at Heimer’s Super Valu grocery store in the meat department. He then drove truck for his grandpa at Bresnahan Construction, for Fred Carlson, and Riehm Construction. Charlie married Deb Johnson and they had two children together: Jacob and Jodie; they later divorced. Charlie then met Karen Kruse and they have been together for the past 32 years.

When he was younger, he enjoyed bowling and had a lot of trophies to show for it. Charlie loved being outside whether it was to cut wood, go mushroom or deer hunting, or to go fishing. He loved feeding the birds, particularly the orioles and chickadees, and they got so used to him, the birds would come eat out of his hand. Charlie also spent a lot of time tinkering and cobble-togethering. He loved Kwik Trip and their lemon poppyseed muffins, so much so that they knew him as the “muffin man” when he came into the stores. When he wasn’t enjoying a muffin, Charlie could often be seen quenching his thirst with a PBR or partaking in a bowl of Kemp’s chocolate ice cream.

He is survived by his longtime partner, Karen Kruse of Spring Grove, Minn.; his children Jacob and Jodie Bresnahan, grandchildren Nick Farley and Chloe Hughes, great-grandson Dean Schwan, three sisters: Shirley O’Hara of Waukon, Connie (Allen) Leiran of Waterville, Iowa, and Linda Duffy of La Crescent, Minn.; an uncle, William Bresnahan of Waukon; and several nieces and nephews.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Kenny O’Hara.

Honorary casketbearers are his grandchildren Nick and Chloe and great-grandson Dean.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.