Charles Edward Kankel, 70, lost his courageous battle with cancer on October 29, 2010 at the Columbus Hospice House in Columbus, GA. His body may have given up, but his spirit lives on.

A celebration of Charlies life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at Bethany Lutheran Church with Pastor Tom Potter officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the House of T.I.M.E., 1200 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31906.

Born November 29, 1939 in Thief River Falls, MN to Carl and Esther Ness Kankel, Charlie grew up in Red Lake Falls, where he excelled at Lafayette High School sports, earning 5 letters in baseball, 4 in basketball, 3 in football and 2 in track. Although heavily recruited by the University of North Dakota (UND) after his high school graduation in 1958, Charlie first chose to attend the University of Minnesota to play football. Three weeks into it, he realized it was not the right place for that small town boy, so he called his good friend and UND coach, Harold Pinky Kraft who pulled some strings and got him enrolled late at UND.

Charlie played four seasons of football at UND (1958 " 61) as well as freshman baseball (1958 - 59). After graduating from UND in 1962 with a major in physical education and a minor in social studies, Charlie spent the next five years teaching and coaching in Miles City, MT, Jackson, MN, and two schools in California.

In 1967, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he spent his first year in training before volunteering to serve in Vietnam with the 74th Infantry Detachment (Long Range Patrol) 173rd Airborne Brigade, which was re-designated N Company 75th Infantry (Ranger). In 1969 he got out of the Army but after only 30 days he re-enlisted and moved to Ft. Benning, GA, where he worked as an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School.

In the summer of 1970, Charlie volunteered to spend another year in Vietnam, after which he returned to Ft. Benning and spent the next five years as an instructor, earning a masters degree in education from Georgia State University while on active duty.

In 1975, Charlie left the Army and worked as an Education Specialist in the Civil Service at Ft. Benning in the infantry school, until health issues forced him to retire in 1986. Although retired, Charlie did not sit still. He spent many days on the golf course, was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, GA and a long-time member of Alcoholics Anonymous, where he touched many lives. He was also on the Board of Directors of the House of T.I.M.E. (This I Must Earn), a womens recovery program. In addition to his lifetime membership in various U.S. Army Ranger associations, Charlie remained a strong member of the UND Fighting Sioux family, and would take an annual trip to Red Lake Falls and Grand Forks each fall to take in as many football games as his schedule would allow. In July, 2010, Charlie received the inaugural Legends of UND Football award, which was presented to him at the annual golf tournament in Lakeville, MN - Charlies final trip up north .

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Esther Kankel. Survivors include his son, Charles W. Chip Kankel of Smiths, AL, brother David Kankel (Sherry) of Red Lake Falls, MN, nieces Kris (Dennis) Thorfinnson of Gillette, WY (Tanner and Hannah), Tracy Erickson of Andover, MN (Kayleigh and Dane), Nancy Kankel of Lakeville, MN (Reese), Carol Kankel of Red Lake Falls, MN, Erika (Ron) Knips of Lakeville, MN (Rylee and Brody), nephew Karl (Marlo) Kankel of Lakeville, MN (Kellan), longtime companion, Judy Burgess of Columbus, GA and her family, Kelly Smith and Bo Burgess, Hayley, Tucker, and Anni.