Charles V. "Chuck" Dyer

Charles (“Chuck”, a.k.a. “Junior”) Vernon Dyer, age 94 of Prairie du Chien, WI, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2026, peacefully at home. He was born in Tulare, CA, on June 28, 1931, to Charles T. and Fay (Davis) Dyer. His family lived in Fullerton, CA, until Charles was about 11 years old. His mother feared a Japanese invasion, and so the family left California and moved to Ava, MO, in 1942. However, Charles returned during summers to bale hay with his uncle in the San Joaquin Valley.

Charles graduated from Ava High School in Ava, MO, in 1950. While in high school, he participated in football, track, and earned a ‘golden gloves’ boxing title. His boxing career ended abruptly when a marine in the audience at the county fair accepted a challenge to “take on the Champ”. As Charles would recount, “I kept hitting him in the gloves with my face.”

Charles married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Detherage, on December 22, 1950, in Mountain Home, AR. He later served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1960. Has was stationed at Coronado Island, and he and Juanita lived together in National City, CA. They later lived in Bettendorf, IA, East Moline, IL, and Madison, WI, where Charles got involved in retail management.

Charles and Juanita moved to Prairie du Chien in 1964, where they owned and operated Ben Franklin Variety Store, Betty’s Hallmark, and House of Fashion for many years until retirement. Charles was an active member of the United Methodist Church and the Free & Accepted Masons of Wisconsin, both in Prairie du Chien. 

Charles had ‘complicated’ relationships with his boats, but he loved fishing, and he passed that onto his sons and grandsons. He also enjoyed golfing, though it was one of the few things that could cause him to cuss. He was known for his quick wit, and he greeted almost everyone with some unique ‘quip’. When inside his stores, he could be located by his melodic whistling, front-pocket coin jingling, and the smell of Carter Hall emanating from his pipe, the latter of which was the only habit he managed to kick at age 50. 

Charles was a very sharp dresser, though his kids sometimes thought it a tad bit flamboyant. He owned many hats, and he had the fanciest golf shoes at the Country Club. He loved food, and his wife is a talented cook. His favorite meal was the one she put in front of him each day at 6 p.m.

Charles truly liked people--especially ‘characters’--and he rarely uttered a bad word about anyone.He was a family man, and was happiest when at home, surrounded by them. He was a generous, wise, and loving father and grandfather, and he truly adored and respected his wife, Juanita, with whom he recently celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary. 

Charles is survived by his wife of 75 years, Juanita; children, Roger (Marlene) Dyer, Pamela (Larry) Dyer Lorenz, Thomas (Lisa) Dyer, and Christopher (Celeste) Dyer; sister, Mary (Jim) McCall; grandchildren, Tonya, Timothy, Nichole, Jonathan, Joshua, Addison, and Charles; great-grandchildren, Alli, Brett, Kelly, William, Beau, Adalyn, Cooper, Lylah, Justin, Ada, Zoe and Penelope; great great-granddaughters, Lila and Alden; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Charles Barnard; and siblings Ralph and Donald Dyer and Diane Garrison. 

A Memorial Service will be Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, Pastor Oliver Cardano officiating, with interment at a later date in the Evergreen Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service, where there will be a tribute from the Prairie du Chien Masonic Lodge #8 at 10:30 A.M. Military Honors will be accorded by the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Prairie du Chien United Methodist Church. 

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