Charles "Chuck" R. Sturm

Charles Ross Sturm (Chuck), age 68, lost his brief but valiant fight with cancer on January 22 surrounded by his family. Born October 24, 1946, he was a lifelong resident of Bay City. He was a graduate of Bay City Central (1964) and Michigan State University (1968 & 1969). He started out his career as an engineer working for McDonnell Douglas. His desire to teach and coach brought him back to Michigan after only a year. He taught everyone's favorite subject...MATH...at John Glenn High School for 32 years and finally "graduated high school" as he put it when his son graduated from high school in 2002. He started as an adjunct professor at Delta College in 1995 and has been there for 19 ½ years, teaching all the way through the end of the fall semester 2014, which totals 45 years of teaching...MATH. He grew up in a house that celebrated all sports. Next to golf, basketball was the perfect sport. He started out coaching at Owendale-Gagetown and coached all levels of basketball in Bay City over all 45 years of his teaching career. He was a true Tigers fan, making annual treks with his dad down to spring training. He followed Spartan and Wolverine teams avidly, having spent many a Saturday in the fall at either "Spartan Stadium" or "The Big House". His true passion was golf. Golf was his game and Chuck shared his love of the game - playing golf as often as possible. Even in Michigan he would find a way to play 12 months of the year, though in recent years, trips south with golfing buddies extended the season and prepared him for Michigan spring golf. Chuck was a golf Marshal for the USGA and the GAM. He was also the coach of the very first high school girls' golf team in Bay County. He has been a member of the Bay City Country Club since 1974. He was predeceased by his parents Michael and Elizabeth Sturm (former Sports Editor of the Bay City Times). Chuck is survived by his wife, Kimberly; Son, Christopher (Fiancé - Chasmine); Daughter, Elizabeth (Fiancé - Chris); Sisters, Barbara Sturm Nanzig (Tom) and Donna Rosebush; beloved In-laws Rodger and Margaret Huckins; Sister in law Katherine Bianconi (Richard) and many nieces and nephews and friends. A Memorial Service will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. Officiating will be Rev. Fr. James R. Carlson. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the wishes of the family. www.gephartfuneralhome.com