Charles W. “Chuck” Watkins II

Charles W. “Chuck” Watkins II

September 25, 1941- August 1, 2024Charles W. Watkins was born to Charles & Myrtle Mae (MiMi) Watkins September 25, 1941, and passed away peacefully at home August 1, 2024.  Along with his 3 siblings, he was raised and attended school in South Omaha.  His high school years were spent in Roswell, NM, at New Mexico Military Institute.  He attended University of Nebraska, then started his Military service in 1961, as a personnel clerk in Babenhausen, Germany, in the US Army.  At the insistence of Charlie in 1967, Chuck returned to Omaha to begin working at the family business, Watkins Concrete Block Company.

The 70’s and 80’s were marked by rapid expansion of the concrete industry.  Along with his dad, brother, Bob, and brother-in-law, Lou Riedmann, the company built a new state of the art manufacturing facility and headquarters in southwest Omaha, taking advantage of Omaha’s westward expansion.  Prior to selling the company in 1986, they created a highly computerized block plant capable of producing 30,000 blocks per day.  Chuck was a leader in his industry, well known in the construction world, and very proud to be an integral part of the building of Omaha.

Selling the company and “retiring” gave Chuck the ability to focus on the mission of helping kids.  He was raised into Miloma Lodge in 1983. Chuck found a sense of community and camaraderie amongst his Masonic brethren.  Chuck and his beloved Candy Apple Red 1966 Mustang Convertible paraded around many events as a part of the DeMolay Knights of Tangier Shrine.  His dedication to Tangier culminated in being installed as Potentate in 1996.   Beginning in 1997, Chuck expanded his mission by serving on the Board of Directors of the Twin Cities Shrine Hospital, including a term as the Chairman of the Board.  In 2006, he received Emeritus status.  Chuck was honored that he was able to help so many kids gain access to treatment for special health care needs.

If helping kids was his mission, travelling with his beloved wife, Pat, was his passion.  They traveled extensively in the US, explored seemingly every castle in Europe, took jaunts from Spain to Algiers, scuba dived in Hawaii and Mexico, and enjoyed every travel adventure.  And this list doesn’t even include the many years of trips skiing down the slopes in Colorado with his “Dirty 30” pals, and trips up and down the river on the Summer Slopes with family and friends.  As his family grew, Chuck attended his grandkids’ numerous celebrations and events, hosted family gatherings at the Watkins house (including the huge extended family Thanksgiving feast), and loved being surrounded by the exuberance of his kids and grandkids.  Military Service, Block plant days, cocktails at Cohen & Kelly’s, serving the Shrine and family fun…. Chuck led a full life, and was very blessed and surrounded by love to the end.

Chuck is survived by Pat, his wife of 45 years; 6 Children: Teri Watkins, Amy Griner Stafford (Robert Wood), Lisa Walton (Kent), Stacy Lawson (Hugh), Michelle Stopak (Scott), John Howell (Tracy), and 6 Grandchildren:  Declan, Cody, Brooke (Jacob), Nick, James, Ginnie; sisters: Janet McCoy, Joyce Blundell (Jack).

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Robert (Bob) Watkins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Tangier Shrine or the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska.

VISITATION: Friday, August 9, 2024 from 2:00-4:00 PM. with REMARKS and MASONIC SERVICE at 4:00PM at the West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha.

To view a live broadcast of the service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “LiveCast” button at the top of the homepage.