Porter stalwart, Carl Oscar Randler (Chuck) of Chesterton, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004 at V.N.A. Horton Hospice Center, Valparaiso. He was 90.

He was born Feb. 11, 1914 in Indiana Harbor, the son of Mitchell and Bertha (Wagner) Randler, both of whom preceded him in death.

On April 11, 1940 in Chesterton, he married Ardith (Ardie) Lindquist, who survives in Chesterton.

He is also survived by two sons, Carl (Chuck) Randler of E. Boston, Mass. and John Randler of Mesa, Ariz.; a daughter Hedy (Peter) Ballestero of Chesterton; a grandchild, Rebecca Randler of Mesa, Ariz.; a step-grandson, Thomas (Penny) Ballestero of Chesterton; three step-great grandchildren, Blair, Ashley and Austin Ballestero all of Chesterton and many nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by brothers Mitchell (Mike) Randler and William (Bill) Randler; a sister, Hedwig (Hedy) Randler and a nephew, Robert Randler.

When he was two years old, his family moved to the family farm in Porter. Chuck attended school at the Waverly School House on Waverly Rd. in Porter and later graduated from Chesterton High School in 1934. After high school, he went to work at U.S. Steel as a machinist, where in 1935 he traveled to Bogata, Columbia to work for the steel company modernizing the accessibility to the nitrate mines from donkery to cable cars. In 1947, he opened Porter Garage in Porter, where he was a mechanic until 1969. For several years he worked for Duneland School Corporation as a school bus driver starting in 1965.

He was owner of Porter Speed Wash Laundromat in Porter. After having worked in and out of the family business, Randler’s Tavern on U.S. Hwy 20, now LeRoy’s, he and his wife Ardie took over the business in 1972 until they retired in 1977.

Chuck, was a Porter volunteer fireman for 40 years and served in the capacity of Fire Chief for 25 years. He was Porter’s Citizen of the Year in 1982 and along with his wife Ardie again in 2001. He belonged to the Chesterton Moose Lodge and Isaak Walton League.

Chuck and Ardie traveled extensively in the Caribbean and also parts of the United States. They traveled to Hong Kong, Tokyo, China and Thailand, which was a trip Chuck really loved. Even in his final years, he talked of places he would like to visit.

A funeral service, Father Salveraj Selladarij officiating, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton. Interment will be at Chesterton Cemetery, Chesterton.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home.

Memorials may be sent to Whispering Pines Health Care Center, 3301 N. Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383.

Posted 12/6/2004