Charles “Chuck” Francis Gauthier

Charles “Chuck” Francis Gauthier, 81, passed away on October 11, 2026, at his home in Lac du Flambeau after a hard-fought battle with cancer. His four children were by his side. Born on December 16, 1944, to Frank and Gladys Gauthier, Chuck was a longstanding and dedicated member of the Lac du Flambeau tribal community.

Passionate about education and lifelong learning, Chuck attended the Lac du Flambeau Grade School, Lakeland Union High School, the DeVry Institute, and Nicolet College. He also pursued additional learning through certification programs.

Chuck proudly served in the United States Marine Corps as an avionics instructor for the A-4 Skyhawk. He volunteered for a tour in Vietnam, survived the Tet Offensive, and was honorably discharged with multiple awards, including the Navy Achievement Medal.

His civilian career began with roles as an engineer at Gottlieb Pinball Machines, Kaiser Steel, and the Chicago Transit Authority.

Sandy entered his life in the early 1970s. They quickly fell in love, got married, and were inseparable for 52 years until she passed away from cancer in 2024.

They lovingly raised four kids, owned multiple dogs, and created countless memories from their lake home in Lac du Flambeau.

He was very proud of his four children, and while he had many friends and associates throughout the years, Chuck was a family man first and foremost. He loved spending time with his wife and kids.

During the 1970s, Chuck became well known in Wisconsin’s Northwoods for Gauthier Electric. In the early 1980s, he built and operated Gauthier Cablevision, one of the area’s first cable television networks.

His underground cable system delivered TV service to the Lac du Flambeau community for over two decades. Although severe damage to the main cable line during a road construction project led to the loss of the business in the mid-2000s, Gauthier Cablevision remains a testament to Chuck’s ability to analyze, engineer, and maintain an incredibly complex system.

Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, he considered his ventures family businesses and always included his wife and children within the operations. He loved training his kids on new skills, instilling a solid work ethic in them, and modeling critical thinking as foundational to success.

Among many community service efforts, Chuck dedicated 15 years to the Lac du Flambeau school board, many of those years as the president, and was pivotal in the establishment and funding of the new grade school in the mid-nineties.

In his personal time, he loved road trips with his family. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his kids. And he didn’t even mind waiting in the car while Sandy shopped in stores.

During his later years, Chuck embraced the role of loving grandpa by fishing, gardening, hosting cookouts, and more with his eight grandkids. He spent much of his time researching his genealogy, connecting with other Vietnam War veterans, and watching his dog, Gunny, play in the yard.

Chuck’s legacy lives on in the family he loved, the skills he passed down, and the community he helped build.

Chuck is lovingly remembered by his four children, Stacey (Ryan) Gillis, Frank Gauthier, Tara (Dan) McCallum, and Bradley (Rubie) Gauthier; his eight grandchildren, Jamey (Rowdy) Wiedemeier, Jayden (Morgan) Soulier, Ian McCallum, Kate McCallum, Lainey McCallum, Lauren McCallum, Sophia Gauthier, and Zeno Gauthier; and his brother, Leonard Gauthier. He is also survived by his aunt, Marilyn Ercoli; his uncle, Ron Sell; his cousin, Rick Immler; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Sandy Gauthier; his parents, Frank and Gladys Gauthier; and his sisters, Marcia Johansen and Jacque Cote.

Memorial Gathering for Charles will be held on Saturday, October 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Nimsgern Funeral Home Chapel in Woodruff, with a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. followed by Military Honors and a reception.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com. Nimsgern Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family.