Charles “Chuck” Anton La Rue was born on May 3, 1959, in St. Louis Park, MN, to Richard and Marilyn La Rue. He passed away peacefully on October 17, with his sons, Kriz and Jerome, at his side. Throughout his life, Chuck called many places home, including South Bend, IN; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Gaithersburg, MD; Colorado Springs, CO; and both Hopkins and Rochester, MN.
Chuck was the embodiment of a free spirit, and led an adventurous life. His greatest adventure began in 2010 when he began a walk from Washington D.C. to the Santa Monica Pier in honor of his brother, David, who had ALS. Known as Chuck Walking, the cross-country project was a channel to raise awareness and money for ALS research. As Chuck, clad in an orange construction vest and pushing a baby stroller containing his belongings, made his way across the nation, he was welcomed into communities and homes. He heard countless stories from people of all backgrounds, and his interest in others helped him form lasting friendships across the country.
He especially enjoyed his time growing up in Vermillion, SD where he worked as a Chef at The Prairie and The Cavalier and enjoyed fishing and camping on the Missouri River and experimenting in the family kitchen baking and inventing new recipes.
Chuck’s career as a chef took him to restaurants in Colorado, Maryland, and Minnesota. In Rochester, he worked at a number of respected establishments, including the Mayo Clinic, Michaels, Four Daughters, and Omar’s Kitchen. Beyond his culinary work, Chuck was also creative and made art in many mediums including drawing, photography and painting. He even organized an art show in Rochester. He was often seen downtown, camera in hand, talking with locals and visitors from around the world. He loved hearing their stories as he took their picture.
Chuck was known for his sense of humor and striking up a conversation with anyone. His passion for cooking, photography, and writing about his journey across the country allowed him to reach people from all walks of life. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met and will be remembered for living life on his own terms while caring deeply about his family and the world around him.He loved spending time with his sons and days out and about with his grandchildren. Above all, he considered himself lucky for the experiences and relationships he had.
Chuck is survived by his children, Kriz (Alyssa) and Jerome (Amy); his grandchildren Destinee, Trenton, Shianne, and Paxton La Rue; Logan, Payton, and Sylas Mills; and Brantley La Rue; his sisters Mary La Rue (Alex) and Julie La Rue (Adam); sister-in-law Lisa La Rue and many nieces and nephews.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Marilyn La Rue, his brother David La Rue, and his son Anton La Rue.
