NACHTEGAELE

With sadness we announce that Charlesena "Charlie" M. Nachtegaele of Rimbey, Alberta passed away peacefully at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre – Long Term Care on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the age of 93 years.

Charlie was born and raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. She began nursing training at the Saskatchewan Psychiatric Hospital, but did not complete her training after she married Victor Nachtegaele in 1949. They purchased a farm east of North Battleford and raised a family of three children Peggy, Larry, and Sheila. In 1963, between Christmas and the New Year, the family relocated to Bluffton, Alberta where they rented a small house for six months before purchasing a farm northwest of Bluffton.

Over the years, both Charlie and Vic were active members of the Blindman River Hall and the Royal Canadian Legion in Bluffton. Charlie became a 4-H leader as well, and started a 4-H Sewing Club along with the co-leader Marge Brown. After their children moved out of the house and on their own paths, Charlie worked for a time in retail at the Robinson's store. In 1972 Charlie and Vic became foster parents, and three boys Erwin, Malcolm, and Trevor joined the family and came to stay with them. Before and after the family's journey to Africa, Charlie also enjoyed being a judge for sewing, knitting, and other handicrafts at many of the local fairs.

Vic accepted a job in Tanzania, Africa as a field and crop supervisor and shop mechanic with the Canadian Industrial Development Association, together with NAFCO (National Food and Agriculture Corporation), to help grow grain atop the great rift wall. In 1978 the family packed their bags, and Charlie, Vic, Erwin, Malcolm, and Trevor moved to Tanzania.

The boys were enrolled at an international school in Arusha, and Charlie learned that cooking meals there were back to the basics. Shopping for groceries was very different as there were no convenience foods available and many items were not always accessible.

After three years, they relocated to Sudan for the same type of project for another two years. The boys then attended the international school in Thika, Kenya. They enjoyed many holidays to Dar es Salaam, the Seychelles Islands, and all the nearby parks.

Upon returning to Canada and after the boys had graduated, Charlie and Vic sold the farm and moved to their property in Buck Lake. They had a lot of fun joining the Buck Lake seniors in holiday trailer convoys, and fall campouts at the Buck Lake Hall that were complete with an annual play and lots of games.

Charlie was a busy lady that was always sewing or crafting, and she enjoyed belonging to many groups. She will be fondly remembered for spurring on lots of good laughs, as well as her keen ability to play a mean game of crib!

Charlie will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by her two daughters Peggy Mueller of Langley, B.C.; and Sheila (Rob) Budd of Bluffton; her foster son Malcolm Peigan of Edmonton; as well as eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; other family members; and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband Victor in 2013; her son Larry; two foster sons Erwin and Trevor Peigan; son-in-law Norman Mueller; two sisters Shirley Kulyk and Vida Brunwald; and her brother-in-law Steve Kulyk.

A Service in Celebration of Charlie's Life was held at the Rimbey United Church on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Marco Ste-Marie officiating. A private Interment Service took place in the Iola Fairview Cemetery, Bluffton.

If friends desire, memorial tributes in Charlie’s memory may be made directly to the Royal Canadian Legion, Rimbey Branch No. 36, Box 508, Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0. Thoughts and messages to the family may be shared through the condolence area located at the bottom of this page.

Service and Burial Arrangements for the Late Charlesena "Charlie" M. Nachtegaele entrusted to the care of