By Bruce Rolfe
A long time Climax resident who was active in the community in many roles, is being remembered as a person who loved his community and family and enjoyed bringing humor into a conversation.
Charles “Chuck” Betz, of Climax, passed away June 18 at his home with family by his side.
Born May 19, 1939, Betz was a lifelong resident of Climax, with the exception of when he served in the United States Air Force from 1960-1964 and when he worked several years in Kansas City for Clark Equipment Company.
A 1957 graduate of Climax-Scotts High School, Betz worked at Clark Equipment Company until the mid-1970s when he started his own business. He moved Betz Contracting and Machining to Climax in 2000. His son Shawn Betz currently owns the business.
Chuck felt being active in the community was important.
He was a member of the Climax Rotary Club and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award (Rotary International’s highest award bestowed upon a Rotarian or community member who demonstrates a significant commitment to Rotary’s ideals through service and contributions).
He served as post commander of the Climax-Scotts American Legion Post #465, and he served on the C-S Board of Education nine years.
Betz was a champion for kids and wanted young people to succeed.
He was a Little League baseball coach for a number of years and was a Kids Hope mentor.
While his children had already graduated from the Climax-Scotts School District, Betz decided to run for a school board position in 2000 at the age of 61 and was elected. He served on the school board nine years, and was school board president for six of those years.
His wife Carol said former C-S Superintendent the late Bill Middleton encouraged her husband to run for the school board seat.
“He wanted the district to be the best it could be and he felt he could contribute to that. He always liked the idea that he was helping kids,” said Carol, who said the couple had their 60th wedding anniversary June 12.
The longtime Climax resident was also a strong advocate for the local school district.
Many credited Betz for helping get a bond proposal for an all-weather 8 lane track, performing arts upgrade and industrial arts technology facility passed in 2001 (the proposal passed by just four votes) because he went into the community and explained how the enhancements would benefit the school district.
C-S Superintendent of Schools Doug Newington recalled Betz was the school board president when he was hired and he quickly discovered Betz brought good qualities to the school board.
“As a board member Mr. Betz was a great leader and mentor to other board members, and a major reason for the success of the district. He also provided needed support for staff members through some difficult times. He was the board president when I was hired, and I appreciated the welcoming environment and support he provided. Chuck was a friend who we will truly miss,” said Newington.
Former school board member Richard Schau, who graduated from C-S with Chuck and Carol’s son Rodney, said he spent a lot of time with the family. He recalled spending time with the family at the home of Betz’s uncle in Cadillac, and said Betz was like a second father to him.
Schau said it was after his children started attending the C-S School District he started visiting with Betz about the local school district. Betz talked him into running for a school board seat.
Schau was elected to a board seat and Betz, who was the school board president at the time, nominated Schau to be the board vice-president his first year on the board. The following year Betz nominated Schau to be board president.
“I learned a lot with Dr. Balkam (former C-S Superintendent the late Dr. Geoffrey Balkam), and Chuck, board meetings and how to handle situations. I think it was big in my personal development in my personal live and in my career. I think it helped me out tremendously in my career being around those guys and watching them. I will always cherish that,” said Schau.
Besides helping with Rotary and school functions, Betz didn’t hesitate to help others, especially his friends.
Lifelong Climax resident Mark Sinclair, who owned Sinclair’s Market with his wife Ann for many years, said he could always count on Betz.
Mark recalled in the summer of 1993 straight-line winds took about half of the roof off of Sinclair’s Market. He said it was late in the afternoon and Betz stopped by to help on his way home from work.
He said the two got some large tarps and spent all night covering the roof with the large tarps.
“We finished the job just before a rain storm hit the next morning. Thanks to Chuck’s efforts and recognizing that I needed help, no product was lost,” said Mark.
Carol said Chuck especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, snowmobiling, and fishing on Lake Michigan.
“I think he was a role model to not only our kids but some of his nephews, on both sides of the family. He was just a good guy,” said Carol.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 28, at the Climax United Methodist Church, 133 E. Maple St. in Climax.
A long time Climax resident who was active in the community in many roles, is being remembered as a person who loved his community and family and enjoyed bringing humor into a conversation.
Charles “Chuck” Betz, of Climax, passed away June 18 at his home with family by his side.
Born May 19, 1939, Betz was a lifelong resident of Climax, with the exception of when he served in the United States Air Force from 1960-1964 and when he worked several years in Kansas City for Clark Equipment Company.
A 1957 graduate of Climax-Scotts High School, Betz worked at Clark Equipment Company until the mid-1970s when he started his own business. He moved Betz Contracting and Machining to Climax in 2000. His son Shawn Betz currently owns the business.
Chuck felt being active in the community was important.
He was a member of the Climax Rotary Club and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award (Rotary International’s highest award bestowed upon a Rotarian or community member who demonstrates a significant commitment to Rotary’s ideals through service and contributions).
He served as post commander of the Climax-Scotts American Legion Post #465, and he served on the C-S Board of Education nine years.
Betz was a champion for kids and wanted young people to succeed.
He was a Little League baseball coach for a number of years and was a Kids Hope mentor.
While his children had already graduated from the Climax-Scotts School District, Betz decided to run for a school board position in 2000 at the age of 61 and was elected. He served on the school board nine years, and was school board president for six of those years.
His wife Carol said former C-S Superintendent the late Bill Middleton encouraged her husband to run for the school board seat.
“He wanted the district to be the best it could be and he felt he could contribute to that. He always liked the idea that he was helping kids,” said Carol, who said the couple had their 60th wedding anniversary June 12.
The longtime Climax resident was also a strong advocate for the local school district.
Many credited Betz for helping get a bond proposal for an all-weather 8 lane track, performing arts upgrade and industrial arts technology facility passed in 2001 (the proposal passed by just four votes) because he went into the community and explained how the enhancements would benefit the school district.
C-S Superintendent of Schools Doug Newington recalled Betz was the school board president when he was hired and he quickly discovered Betz brought good qualities to the school board.
“As a board member Mr. Betz was a great leader and mentor to other board members, and a major reason for the success of the district. He also provided needed support for staff members through some difficult times. He was the board president when I was hired, and I appreciated the welcoming environment and support he provided. Chuck was a friend who we will truly miss,” said Newington.
Former school board member Richard Schau, who graduated from C-S with Chuck and Carol’s son Rodney, said he spent a lot of time with the family. He recalled spending time with the family at the home of Betz’s uncle in Cadillac, and said Betz was like a second father to him.
Schau said it was after his children started attending the C-S School District he started visiting with Betz about the local school district. Betz talked him into running for a school board seat.
Schau was elected to a board seat and Betz, who was the school board president at the time, nominated Schau to be the board vice-president his first year on the board. The following year Betz nominated Schau to be board president.
“I learned a lot with Dr. Balkam (former C-S Superintendent the late Dr. Geoffrey Balkam), and Chuck, board meetings and how to handle situations. I think it was big in my personal development in my personal live and in my career. I think it helped me out tremendously in my career being around those guys and watching them. I will always cherish that,” said Schau.
Besides helping with Rotary and school functions, Betz didn’t hesitate to help others, especially his friends.
Lifelong Climax resident Mark Sinclair, who owned Sinclair’s Market with his wife Ann for many years, said he could always count on Betz.
Mark recalled in the summer of 1993 straight-line winds took about half of the roof off of Sinclair’s Market. He said it was late in the afternoon and Betz stopped by to help on his way home from work.
He said the two got some large tarps and spent all night covering the roof with the large tarps.
“We finished the job just before a rain storm hit the next morning. Thanks to Chuck’s efforts and recognizing that I needed help, no product was lost,” said Mark.
Carol said Chuck especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, snowmobiling, and fishing on Lake Michigan.
“I think he was a role model to not only our kids but some of his nephews, on both sides of the family. He was just a good guy,” said Carol.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 28, at the Climax United Methodist Church, 133 E. Maple St. in Climax.
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