January 19, 2026. A man who spent decades in uniform took his last breath. Charles E. Splonksowski, known to everyone as Chuck, died surrounded by his two daughters. He was a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, retired. But his family says his rank was never what made him special. It was what he did after the service that truly defined him.
Chuck grew up in two New York cities. First Queens. Then Albany. He graduated from Bishop Gibbons High School in 1965. The Vietnam War was escalating. He joined the Air Force and trained as a Medical Service Specialist. Over the years, he climbed through the ranks, eventually earning the highest enlisted grade possible. Chief Master Sergeant. The title came with responsibility. He carried it well.
After retiring from the military, Chuck and his wife moved to Hurley, Wisconsin. He traded flight lines for open land. He bought John Deere tractors. He cleared snow in winter. He landscaped in spring. He maintained his property with the same discipline he had once applied to medical protocols. Neighbors quickly learned that when something broke or a driveway needed plowing, Chuck was the one to call. He never said no.
He was that kind of person. Reliable. Quietly helpful. He did not announce his good deeds. He just did them. A broken fence. A stuck vehicle. A neighbor who needed a ride. Chuck showed up.
As he aged, he began experiencing memory loss and changes in his gait. In 2021, he and his wife relocated to Papillion, Nebraska, to be closer to family. His daughters took over much of his care. They were with him when his health finally gave out.
Charles Splonksowski leaves behind two daughters and a long list of neighbors in Hurley who will remember the man with the tractor who never charged for his time. He served his country in uniform. He served his community with a snow shovel. He served his family by staying present until the end. That is a life well worn.
