Charles Landes Obituary

Charles “Chuck” Doren Landes, youngest son of Charles B. Landes and Mary Bessie Van Doren, passed away on April 10, 2026. Charles was born on May 2, 1932, in Livingston, Montana. He met his future wife working in Yellowstone Park and was married to Shirley Jean Steward in June of 1958. They were married for 56 years. This union was blessed by the birth of two daughters.

Charles had a love of the outdoors, which included working for Yellowstone National Park in the Fisheries. He enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking with his family. He had a love of learning his entire life. Studying Geology in college provided him with his favorite life-long hobby of rockhounding. He was the President of a local gem and mineral club and enjoyed the club excursions searching for fossils, rocks and minerals. He always had a passion for the hunt and for ensuring that nature was preserved. He and his wife, Shirley, and their children enjoyed golfing and skiing. Skiing in places like Utah, Colorado, Montana, and California. When the family lived in states that didn’t allow for as many outdoor activities, he took up bowling and he and his wife, Shirley, joined various bowling leagues. He was fun and quick to laugh and thoroughly enjoyed telling a good story.

Chuck’s occupation with the Federal Government, took he and his family to many different locations in the United States. The family lived in Utah, Colorado, California, Maryland, Montana, Georgia, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska and finally in Colorado.

He is survived and remembered fondly by his daughter Karalee L. Smith and son-in-law Joseph Smith and two grandsons Andrew and Dominic, and daughter, Lori Kay Landes, and his faithful dog, Harvey.

He is preceded in death by his dear wife, Shirley Jean Landes and his older brother and sister, Thayer Landes and Indabel Graves.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sjogren’s Foundation.