Obituary for Charles Gustave "Chuck" Theiss
Charles Gustave “Chuck” Theiss, 94, passed away at his home in Fishkill on Friday, October 7, 2022.
Chuck was born on August 22, 1928 in New York City, the first son of Emil and Anna Theiss. In 1942, the family moved to Wappingers Falls in their summer home on Osborne Hill Road. Chuck and his brother Robert grew up in the Fishkill/Wappingers Falls area where they attended Wappingers Central Schools.
During World War II, because of the gas rationing, the family had to move to Beacon so that Emil and Anna could be closer to their jobs. Emil worked in the Newburgh Shipyard and Anna worked for the National Biscuit Co. in Beacon. The boys Chuck and Bob attended Beacon schools for two years, and then the family moved back to Wappingers Falls. Chuck graduated from Wappingers Central Schools in 1946. Chuck worked for several years as a part-time plumber’s helper for A.C. Smith Company of Beacon, where he learned the trade.
In his youth, he made a lot of friends and played a lot of ball. He was an honors student and outstanding athlete in football, baseball, and basketball. He played these sports at both the high school and semi-pro levels. In 1949, he graduated from New York State Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences, where he earned a degree in building construction. He entered the construction field and under the firm of Emil Theiss and Sons he built many homes and buildings in the Southern Dutchess area. In 1964, Chuck went to work for I.B.M. (East Fishkill) in the Facilities, Operations & Maintenance Department. After 23 years, he left I.B.M. and in 1987 went to work for the Town of Fishkill as the interim Building & Zoning Inspector and Town Assessor. He finally retired in 2000, after 23 years as the Assessor and an eight-year term as a Councilman on the Town Board.
An avid sportsman, Chuck played semi-pro football for the Beacon Bears, and also played baseball, basketball, and softball for the Fishkill Athlete Club and several area teams. Chuck was a member of the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame and Thomas Macrini Sports Hall of Fame, charter member of the Beacon Bears Alumni, and Past President of the Dutchess County Old Timers’ Baseball Association. His love for the outdoors included many hunting and fishing adventures. He was a member of the East Hook Sportsmen Association and owned a hunting & fishing camp on the Chazy River in Champlain, NY. He and his family spent many days at the camp, enjoying the peace & quiet of the north country.
Chuck was very active in the community and held many volunteer positions such as the Assessment Review Board (Chairman), Fishkill Rural Cemetery Board of Trustees, Rombout Firemen’s Benevolent Association (President) and Rombout Fire District (Commissioner). His love for volunteer fire service started in 1951 as a firefighter for Protection Engine Company of Fishkill. He served more than 50 years for the Rombout Fire Company, with nearly 75 years of service in total. He was a Life Member of Protection Engine Company, Associate Life Member of Slater Chemical Company (Glenham), and a Charter Life Member of Rombout Fire Company. Service to the community was a big part of his life.
Chuck met his loving wife Dorothea Delahay in Glenham and they were married in 1949 at St. Joachim Church in Beacon. Dottie and Chuck shared 61 years of marriage together, raising their family, and enjoying their grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Dottie passed away in 2010. Chuck spent his final years playing the role of Grandpa and babysitter.
Survivors include his daughter, Susan Ann Arnold; his son, Charles Emil Theiss; his granddaughters, Jennifer, Tracey, and Deanna; his great-grandchildren, Victoria, Gary, Khloee, Paige, Alexander, and Cole; as well as several nephews, nieces, and their families.
In addition to his wife and parents, Chuck was also predeceased by his brother, Robert “Bob” Theiss, in 2015 and his sister-in-law, Ruth Theiss, in 2019.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 10 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 11 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill, followed by interment at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rombout Fire Company, PO Box 401, Fishkill, NY 12524 or the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame, 51 Cramer Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.
For online tributes, you can visit Chuck’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
Chuck was born on August 22, 1928 in New York City, the first son of Emil and Anna Theiss. In 1942, the family moved to Wappingers Falls in their summer home on Osborne Hill Road. Chuck and his brother Robert grew up in the Fishkill/Wappingers Falls area where they attended Wappingers Central Schools.
During World War II, because of the gas rationing, the family had to move to Beacon so that Emil and Anna could be closer to their jobs. Emil worked in the Newburgh Shipyard and Anna worked for the National Biscuit Co. in Beacon. The boys Chuck and Bob attended Beacon schools for two years, and then the family moved back to Wappingers Falls. Chuck graduated from Wappingers Central Schools in 1946. Chuck worked for several years as a part-time plumber’s helper for A.C. Smith Company of Beacon, where he learned the trade.
In his youth, he made a lot of friends and played a lot of ball. He was an honors student and outstanding athlete in football, baseball, and basketball. He played these sports at both the high school and semi-pro levels. In 1949, he graduated from New York State Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences, where he earned a degree in building construction. He entered the construction field and under the firm of Emil Theiss and Sons he built many homes and buildings in the Southern Dutchess area. In 1964, Chuck went to work for I.B.M. (East Fishkill) in the Facilities, Operations & Maintenance Department. After 23 years, he left I.B.M. and in 1987 went to work for the Town of Fishkill as the interim Building & Zoning Inspector and Town Assessor. He finally retired in 2000, after 23 years as the Assessor and an eight-year term as a Councilman on the Town Board.
An avid sportsman, Chuck played semi-pro football for the Beacon Bears, and also played baseball, basketball, and softball for the Fishkill Athlete Club and several area teams. Chuck was a member of the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame and Thomas Macrini Sports Hall of Fame, charter member of the Beacon Bears Alumni, and Past President of the Dutchess County Old Timers’ Baseball Association. His love for the outdoors included many hunting and fishing adventures. He was a member of the East Hook Sportsmen Association and owned a hunting & fishing camp on the Chazy River in Champlain, NY. He and his family spent many days at the camp, enjoying the peace & quiet of the north country.
Chuck was very active in the community and held many volunteer positions such as the Assessment Review Board (Chairman), Fishkill Rural Cemetery Board of Trustees, Rombout Firemen’s Benevolent Association (President) and Rombout Fire District (Commissioner). His love for volunteer fire service started in 1951 as a firefighter for Protection Engine Company of Fishkill. He served more than 50 years for the Rombout Fire Company, with nearly 75 years of service in total. He was a Life Member of Protection Engine Company, Associate Life Member of Slater Chemical Company (Glenham), and a Charter Life Member of Rombout Fire Company. Service to the community was a big part of his life.
Chuck met his loving wife Dorothea Delahay in Glenham and they were married in 1949 at St. Joachim Church in Beacon. Dottie and Chuck shared 61 years of marriage together, raising their family, and enjoying their grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Dottie passed away in 2010. Chuck spent his final years playing the role of Grandpa and babysitter.
Survivors include his daughter, Susan Ann Arnold; his son, Charles Emil Theiss; his granddaughters, Jennifer, Tracey, and Deanna; his great-grandchildren, Victoria, Gary, Khloee, Paige, Alexander, and Cole; as well as several nephews, nieces, and their families.
In addition to his wife and parents, Chuck was also predeceased by his brother, Robert “Bob” Theiss, in 2015 and his sister-in-law, Ruth Theiss, in 2019.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 10 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 11 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill, followed by interment at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rombout Fire Company, PO Box 401, Fishkill, NY 12524 or the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame, 51 Cramer Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.
For online tributes, you can visit Chuck’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.