Charles Gregory Schlimm, Jr.

Charles Gregory Schlimm Jr. passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, yet peacefully and without pain, on September 26, 2026, at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He was 72 years old.

Born and raised amidst the woods of St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. His parents, Charles Gregory Schlimm Sr. and Teresa (Tessie) Schlimm (Schaut), along with his Uncles Jim Caruso, Ed and Jim Schaut, raised him in the heart of Pennsylvania’s backwoods—an upbringing that defined the rest of his life. Though he went off to college with dreams of becoming a forest ranger, Charlie ultimately turned his hands-on talent into a lifelong trade, becoming a master cabinet maker and a true wizard on the table saw. Everything he built was crafted with patience, precision, and pride including the knives he made for 50 different people that will carry his legacy on. As a young man, he moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado where he started his family.

Charlie was a family man through and through, working tirelessly to provide the absolute best for those he loved. As a father, he was a fixture in his kids’ lives. He served as a Boy Scout leader, taking his kids on endless wilderness adventures, he enjoyed teaching Emily, Ben and Jeff about the outdoors. He loved his old Jeep and took quite a thrill in taking his kids down dirt trails, and Emily carries on the Jeep legacy to this day. He also took pride in always being at their basketball games. From the sidelines, he could always be spotted tapping his temple—his silent, unmistakable signal for them to “keep your head in the game.”

Family traditions were sacred to Charlie. Whether it was leading the crew on an annual family whitewater rafting trip down the Arkansas River or making sure everyone ate sauerkraut on New Year’s Day for good luck, he cherished bringing everyone together to build lasting memories.

Nothing brought Charlie more joy than being surrounded by family, listening to updates about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s school marks and sports games, or simply sharing a quiet moment together. He leaves behind his children: Emily, Benjamin, Jeffrey, and Kimberly; his siblings: Joe, Mary Ann, Barbie, and Amy; nine beloved grandchildren: Anthony, Olivia, Charlene, Elias, Lucas, Samantha, Mason, Lindsey and Liam; and five cherished great-grandchildren: Dakota, Paisley, Ashton, Violet, and soon-to-arrive Aaliyah.

In his downtime, Charlie knew how to kick back and enjoy the simple things. He was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan who proudly waved his Terrible Towel every autumn. He loved a classic Clint Eastwood or John Wayne western—often quoting The Duke’s famous reminder that “life is tough, it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” He had a great ear for music, spanning classic rock to country—The Doors, Deep Purple, The Eagles, and especially ZZ Top, whom he fondly bragged about seeing live at a college party back in the day.

Charlie found steady peace outdoors—whether hunting, fishing, camping, tending his garden, or making his legendary homemade salsa (a tradition now carried on proudly by his children and siblings). Sitting around a campfire with a cigar in one hand and a cold Straub beer or a good bourbon in the other, telling stories late into the night, was his sanctuary. In his later years, he picked up a new trike, spent hours watching the local wildlife, and affectionately dubbed himself a “bird nerd.” His big heart extended to his community, where he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and to his faithful dogs over the years: Otis, Buddha, Ruger, and Henry.

Per his explicit wishes, there will be no traditional funeral service or formal urn. Instead, he will be cremated and returned to the woods where he always felt most at home, planted alongside a tree surrounded by the birds he loved to watch.

A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor at the Dam Inn in Pennsylvania, tentatively planned for this coming Spring, where family and friends can gather to toast his memory, share stories, and celebrate a life truly well-lived.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to all the friends and family who have reached out, shared fond memories, and loved him throughout his journey.

He was a hardworking man with an enormous heart, and the world is undeniably a little dimmer without him in it. We take comfort in knowing that wherever he is now, he knows how deeply he was loved, and that his warmth, humor, and guidance will live on in all of us forever.

Please visit hororancares.com to share memories and condolences with the Schlimm Family.