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510 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire WI 54701 • 715.835.3734 Map to the Cathedral

News

Charles "Charlie" Vierbicher

May 2, 1968 ~ May 23, 2025 (age 57)

Charles "Charlie" Andrew Vierbicher, age 57, of Eau Claire, WI, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2025, surrounded by his loving family at Mayo Clinic Health System–Eau Claire, after complications from two major heart attacks.

Charlie was born in Eau Claire on May 2, 1968, to Roland and Donna (Tofting) Vierbicher. He attended Park Elementary School, Central Junior High, South Middle School, and Memorial High School. After graduating high school, he earned a BS in Manufacturing from UW-Stout. He made life-long friends throughout these times and enjoyed catching up with them over a cold beverage.

Over the course of his 34-year career, Charlie worked for U-Fuel, Hutchinson Technology, and Five Star Plastics/Intek Plastics. He took great pride in the products he helped manage and was known to point them out to his family with enthusiasm. Though retirement was still a few years away, he often looked forward to it.

Charlie cherished his free time. He lived for moments with family and friends. His two dogs, Wally and Earl, will miss their long walks.  They will also need to get used to not waking up at 4:00 am, as he was an early riser. Trips to the family cabin were a favorite: boating, fishing, games (especially cribbage—he remained undefeated to this day), and campfires filled many weekends. He was a dedicated fan of the Wisconsin Badgers and could rattle off team stats from memory. And when it came to music, no one loved Van Halen more than Charlie.

He and his wife were fortunate to share many adventures, including two memorable trips to Las Vegas and a dream vacation to Aruba in January, along with frequent trips to Portland and State College. Travel was always on his mind, and there were still many places he wished to see.

Charlie married the love of his life, Stephanie (Faldet), on January 2, 1993, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. They met in junior high and dated for eight years before tying the knot. Together, they raised four wonderful children and treasured every moment watching them grow into kind, accomplished adults. When the kids were home, Charlie packed each day full of fun—he never missed a chance to make memories.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Stephanie; daughters Dana and Dani (both of Portland, OR), and Nicole (Eau Claire); son Andrew (State College, PA); future son-in-law Brett Anibas; special friends Abby Wallar and Joey Hall; brother Gordon Howard; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Brock and Allison (Faldet) Fisher; brother-in-law Dan Faldet (Winter Park, CO); and his parents-in-law Arvid and Dianne Faldet. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews, two great-nephews, one great-niece, and many other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rollie Vierbicher (2008) and Donna Roehrich (2021); sister, Laura Rush (2017); and Laura’s partner, Dirk Snyder (2024).

Charlie was an organ donor, and through this selfless act, he continues to give others a second chance at life. His family is incredibly proud of his legacy.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Mayo Clinic Eau Claire for their exceptional care and compassion during this difficult time. We also thank the staff at the UW-Madison Organ and Tissue Donation for their support and guidance through this journey.

A memorial service for Charlie will take place at 11 am on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church 1314 E. Lexington Blvd., Eau Claire, WI 54701 with Pastor Josh Toufar officiating.  Memorial visitation will take place at Hulke Family Funeral Home on Thursday, June 19, 2025 from 4-7 pm.  There will be no visitation at the church on Friday morning prior to the service.  A celebration of life gathering will take place on Friday afternoon, immediately following the memorial service, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Best Western Conference Center, 3340 Mondovi Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701.  Private family inurnment will take place at a later time in the Rest Haven Cemetery in the Town of Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Charlie's name to a charity of the donor's choice. 

Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

Repose of the Soul Service for Mark Nelson ~ December 21, 2024 at 10 AM

On December 21st, as we continue our journey through Advent, we will gather at Christ Church Cathedral to remember and honor our dear friend, Mark Nelson, on what would have been his birthday. In this season of waiting and hope, we come together to commend Mark’s soul to God’s eternal care.

At 10:00 AM, Fr. George Stamm will celebrate a Repose of the Soul service, offering prayers of remembrance and thanksgiving for Mark’s life, his kindness, and the impact he had on all who knew him. As we reflect on his life, we are reminded of the hope we share in Christ—that death is not the end, but a transition into eternal life with God.

In this sacred time, as we prepare for the coming of Christ, we find comfort in knowing that Mark now rests in peace, surrounded by the light of God’s love. Please join us as we gather in prayer, finding solace in the assurance of eternal life.

Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal
May 21, 2025
 
We hope this journal note finds you all well. We continue our work on the street with our unhoused brothers and sisters, with growing concern for the increased number of people we're serving. We have been seeing a steady increase and are now going to start preparing for 70 guests each time we're out. It's a challenge to know how much to bring out, as we never want to leave someone in need of food or hydration; some people tell us that the food we provide is what gets them from one day to the next, especially if they're working and cannot get to other resources. 
 
We've been blessed to have some young visitors from the local family shelter over the last few visits. The pictures are used with the mother's permission. She said the children had clothing needs, and our partner, Shepherd's Closet, filled the needs, and we provided the items at the next visit. The mother reports that they will be moving into housing in the next few weeks, which is very exciting news.  At each visit, the children are gracious and interactive. We're happy to be of service to all ages and needs.
 
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                The children love the Prime drinks that we distribute!
 
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                             Lots of smiles and hugs from our young friends.
 
The people we serve often have to carry everything they own from place to place.  To the outsider, it may be curious why someone who has nowhere to store their belongings would attempt to bring so much with them.  There is likely a psychological explanation that I suspect relates to trauma and/or the need to have some control in their lives.  It is not our place to judge the behavior; we do not know the past traumas or triggers of each person. Our role is to support the current needs of those we serve to help keep them safe from the elements from day to day.  We do set limits on how many items a person receives in order to ensure that there is an adequate supply for as many people as possible. 
 
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Everything a person owns is strapped onto this bicycle. Somehow, the person manages to balance and ride it. 
 
 
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This person has a cart to wheel her belongings from place to place. 
 
 
We were happy to talk with a man who independently obtained housing!  His presentation has changed drastically: housing has taken several years of stress off his appearance. He smiled throughout the conversation, appeared to be more confident, he stood taller. We believe that he has the skills to be successful, but did encourage him to keep in touch with us for basic needs.  
 
As always, thank you for your ongoing interest and support of the street ministry. We absolutely cannot provide our services without you and need donations, both financial and material.  Please check out our needs list for more information.
 
Blessings to all!
 
CVSM staff