Charles Oswald III

On Thursday, Dec. 15, Charles A. Oswald III passed away at the age of 98 in Mequon, Wis.

Charles was born on April 21, 1924, in Birmingham, Ala., to Jeanette Bibby Oswald and Charles Oswald Jr.

As a teenager during the Depression, Charles started a paper route that he expanded to the point where he employed neighborhood boys and became his family’s primary breadwinner.

At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for 24 years before retiring with the rank of lieutenant commander. He worked as a hospital corpsman (medic) and surgical assistant on hospital ships in the Pacific during World War II, caring for the wounded and dying.  What he saw affected him deeply, and later in life he wrote extensively about his experiences.

Charles’s life took a new direction when he earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Cornell University, embarking on a food service career in the 1950s.  Just as he had done as a young man in Alabama, Charles started and grew a successful business, founding Wisconsin Dietary Management, a food service company with clients including Columbia Hospital, University School and other educational institutions.

Charles will be lovingly remembered by family, co-workers and friends primarily for his love of family, generosity, integrity, fair-mindedness,  compassion — someone you could always count on to be there when you needed him.    

He most of all enjoyed mentoring and supporting his grandson, Collin, and watching him become a loving accomplished adult.

In his free time he also enjoyed gardening, reading, boating, cooking and walks in the park with the family dog Ben.

He is survived by his wife Freida Olsen of Port Washington, Wis.; his three daughters, Anysia (Thomas Singer) Oswald of Alexandria, Va., Aimee (Larry) Sellars of Grafton, Wis., and Lorin (Kevin Cademartori) Oswald of Mequon, Wis.; his grandson Collin Cademartori of New York, N.Y.; and his brother Robert (Betty) Oswald of Gulfport, Miss.

He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Charles was preceded in death by his first wife Anysia (nee Hynes), his parents and his sister Linda Goodwin.

A visitation will be held at Eernisse Funeral Home, 1600 W. Grand Ave., Port Washington, Wis., on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, from 2 to 4 p.m.

A memorial service for Charles will also be held Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Terova Senior Living in Mequon.

Charles will be laid to rest with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Donations are suggested to Doctors Without Borders.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, Wis., is honored to serve the family.

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

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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