Charles E. Casselman

Charles Edward Casselman, Jr., 89, passed away on Friday, April 29, 2016 at his home in
Missoula, Montana, of natural causes. He was born on June 6, 1926, in Chadron, Nebraska, to
Charles E. Casselman and Agnes (Caldwell) Casselman. Charles contracted polio as a child, and
his grandmother introduced him to spinning to strengthen his legs. He was an avid spinner
throughout his life, and owned over 30 spinning wheels.
Charles attended Rapid City High School in South Dakota, graduating in April of 1944.
He attended the University of Omaha before being drafted into the US Army in March of 1945,
and honorably discharged in September 1946. He was a Trappist Monk at New Mellaray Abbey
in Debuque, Iowa. He attended Drake University in Des Moines and graduated with a Bachelor
of Fine Arts. He attended Boston University College of Music, studying the arts, including
theater drawing, costume design, and stagecraft. Despite or perhaps because of his polio, Charles
studied ballet; he performed on stage in New York City.
In 1954, Charles returned to Iowa and obtained a teaching certificate. He taught junior
high and high school in Grafton, Iowa, including English, speech, and drama. He directed school
plays, and sponsored the school newspaper. He taught and coached drama in Sioux City, Iowa,
from 1957-1959. He taught in Ainsworth, Nebraska, in 1959 and 1960, coaching junior and
senior plays, directing the Thespians and he sponsored the school newspaper. He taught high
school in Clarion, Iowa, in 1961-62.
Charles attended State University of South Dakota, Vermillion. In 1966, Charles was
accepted as a member of Mensa. He also taught school in Conrad, Montana. He attended the
University of Montana from 1966 through his graduation with a Master of Education in 1970,
with graduate work in psychology until 1975. He became a Christian Scientist with an inquiring,
critical mind, and studied the Bible extensively.
Charles married Ann Barrett Casselman on June 12, 1967, in Sloan, Iowa. They
purchased property in Ravalli County, Montana, in 1969. Although Charles and Ann divorced in
1996 and she died tragically in 2003, he loved her deeply until his death. In 2004, Charles sold
his homes in Hamilton and moved from the Bitterroot Valley to Clinton, Montana, where he
lived with his dog Arphie until the summer of 2015. He is deeply missed by his friends.
Graveside services will be private.
Read Charles Casselman's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.