Charles M. Kahl

Charles M. Kahl was born in Cleveland, ND to Charles and Evelyn (nee Evelyn Violet Brown) Kahl on May 9, 1932. His family moved to Carrington, ND in 1939 where he attended school, graduating in 1950. He participated in many extra-curricular activities such as football, basketball, band, drama and chorus. In 1951, he joined the Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War for three years. After discharge from the USMC, he went back to surveying, where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Joy Rygg. They were married in August of 1954 and he enrolled at the North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) in the Civil Engineering program. Their daughter Lori was born in 1955 and son Tom was born in 1957.

After graduation from NDSU, the family moved to California where he worked as an engineer. A year later they returned to various cities in North Dakota. In 1977 he became District Engineer in Fargo, spending the remaining 19 years of his career there until his retirement in 1996. In addition to being a civil engineer, he obtained a law degree from LaSalle University (online program). He never practiced law but served as an expert witness on various cases at the Highway Department. He received several awards and plaques along the way but none as important as his family. He adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spending time with them.

After his retirement, he and Joy spent 16 years traveling throughout the United States with their dear friends. They spent summers at their lake cabin on Big Detroit in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Their traveling days ended when Joy was diagnosed with frontal-temporal lobe dementia in the fall of 2011. He cared for Joy in their home until he suffered a stroke in September of 2021. Joy was then placed in the memory care unit at Rosewood on Broadway (now SMP Health) where she remains today.

Charles died on Saturday April 15, 2023 in Sanford Hospital after a valiant fight with metastatic prostate and bladder cancer. The family would like to extend their appreciation to Dr. Failing at the Roger Maris Cancer Center and Dr. Mahajan at the Sanford Pain Clinic for their compassionate care of him. Memorials can be made to the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center.

Charles is survived by his wife, Joy, Fargo, ND; his daughter, Lori (Mark) Thrall, Fargo, ND; his son Tom (Dawn) Kahl, Fargo, ND; his stepmother Marjorie Kahl, Bismarck, ND; his brothers Wes Kahl, Carrington, ND; Keith Kahl, Knoxville, TN; Douglas (Louise) Kahl, Munroe Falls, OH; Steven Kahl, Bismarck, ND; his sister Marla (Jim) Reynolds, Fredricksburg, TX; three grandchildren¨ Ryan (Pakou) Van Dyke, Andrea (Tyler) LaMont, and Logan (Maddison) Kahl; four great-grandchildren: Gavin LaMont, Kinley Lamont, Mason Vang and Ariya Van Dyke. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles L. Kahl and Evelyn Kahl; brother-in-law Doug Rygg; and Joy’s parents, Alfred and Florence Rygg.

Funeral Service:    Friday, April 21, 2023, at 2 pm in West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND, with visitation held one hour prior to his service.   

Military Honors:   US Marine Corps Funeral Honor Guard and VFW Post 7564, West Fargo.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

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