Charles Grant Carpenter III

Charles Grant Carpenter, III “Charlie” 64, of Prescott, Wisconsin passed away peacefully in his home in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 7, 2025, having navigated the challenges of pancreatic cancer for over two years.

Charlie was a curious mix of analytical accuracy and rogue-like mischief. He met every challenge and responsibility with keen intelligence and dogged due diligence, but when the opportunity presented itself, he jumped into the unknown with his wide smile (under that signature mustache) and a devil-may-care sense of adventure.

His early years shaped this personality in subtle ways. He grew up in a family home that dated back to the mid-1800s, surrounded by natural settings that offered limitless opportunities for exploration, discovery, and the occasional misadventure with his siblings. His parents’ decision to forgo a TV in the home may have played a role in propelling a lifelong love of reading, learning, being active outdoors, and taking on never-say-never projects. He also took to scouting, earning Eagle Scout rank, and was a varsity athlete on the football, baseball, and wrestling squads.

After graduating from Oconomowoc Senior High, with top honors and a legacy of colorful shenanigans, he went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he earned a BS in physics, graduating cum laude, with membership in the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society and Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.

It was at this point that the tug of adventure propelled him, temporarily, away from the academic path and out into the wide world. Backpacking through Europe was in turn hilarious and harrowing, but it was his decision, when he returned, to head for the mountains of Colorado that would prove to be life changing. He supported his ski habit with a job as a waiter at Keystone Ski Resort and it was there one fateful day, while wrestling the unruly coffee machine into submission, that he bumped into banquet waitress Sue Wedeking and the spark of their lifelong romance was struck.

They eventually returned to Madison, where Sue earned her nursing degree and Charlie got a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School. After graduation, they moved to the Twin Cities where he launched his 33-year career as a commercial real estate attorney beginning and ending at the firm of Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson. With an unfaltering work ethic, he gained the respect of clients and colleagues alike and was recognized nationally as one of the best in his field.

But even more than this accomplishment, it was his investment in home and family that defined him. He and Sue were lured away from a comfortable first home in Edina, MN by the prospect of life among the open fields, deep woods, and Mississippi River views of rural Prescott, WI. Moving to what would become a 40-acre homestead brought him back full circle to his roots – his passionate love of nature and the promise of unending projects to tackle. Over the years, he and Sue took a serviceable spec house and turned it into a beautiful and gracious home. They were never happier than when they were by each other’s side plotting out designs for the next daunting task that would fulfill their vision, many of which involved Charlie moving massive rocks, planting countless trees, and carving trails in the forest. The result was beautiful, but it was the doing that filled him up.

It was here that they raised their three children, who were everything to Charlie. He was at every game and meet (and there were many!) He pulled up with the trailer for every move (and there were many!) He leaned in on every celebration (and there were many!) He gave them hands-on training in his passions and was infinitely proud of theirs.

Those who knew Charlie will tell you about his unwavering, can-do positivity, his ever-present quick wit and even quicker smile. How he lived life simply but vigorously, taking his coffee strong, his beer ice cold, and music played loud. He loved the invigorating cold and stunning sunrises and sunsets of regular hunting trips with his beloved dog Luna. And he always showed up for friends and family, a steady presence in good and bad times.

Charlie embraced people the way he embraced life – he hugged them tight, investing all that he had, as though his very energy could make everything OK. Communicating with his grip a love that didn’t need words and was without limits. That grip never waned even to the very end. He is going to be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Charlie was preceded in death by his dear wife and best friend Sue and survived by his loving children, Charlie, Sam and Emmie, his siblings, Lisa Carpenter, Annie O’Brien (John), Maggie Carpenter and Jonathan Carpenter (Shea), nephew, Alex, nieces Lulu (Ethan), Bailey and Ella, and many dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather for food and drinks in celebration of Charlie’s life on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 4:30 – 8:30 pm at the Hasting Golf Club, 2015 Westview Dr, Hastings, MN 55033.

Consistent with Charlie’s love of the outdoors, donations in lieu of flowers are welcome to The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin in memory of Charles G. Carpenter III. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/wisconservation

Arrangements are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Prescott. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-262-5404.