Charles "Charlie" J. Specht

Charles Specht Jr,  72, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 10, 2026.  He was born on June 19, 1953 to Charles and Teresa (Martino) Specht in Blue Island, Illinois.

A proud American, a devoted family man, and a “jack of all trades, master of none,” he was never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get to work. If something needed fixing, building, or figuring out, he was your man and he would drop everything to come help fill a need. 

Opinionated and outspoken, he was the kind of person who could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. Whether you knew him for five minutes or fifty years, you knew exactly who he was—because he didn’t pretend to be anything but himself. He was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of guy, and he wore that honesty like a badge of honor. You either loved him or hated him, and he was perfectly fine with either.

He loved fiercely—and cherished his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his country, and the life he built with all of them.

He also found joy in the simple things: camping, watching westerns with the volume turned up too high, bidding at auctions and rummage sales, playing games around the table, or spending time with the people he cared about. 

Horses held a special place in his heart, as did country music and karaoke, where he was a big fan of “diggin up bones”. 

Above all else, he was real. Genuine. Unfiltered. And unforgettable.

He leaves behind a family who loved him deeply, who will forever remember his stubborn streak, his humor, his stories, and his fierce loyalty. 

Though he may be gone, the mark he left—on the people he loved and the life he lived—will not fade.

Charlie is survived by his wife Cindi, children; Charles (Kathy) Specht III, Amber R. Specht, Brandi (Jeff) Tuck, Patrick (Meggen) Kaufman, and Julie (Max) Martin, grandchildren; Camden, Brady, Amelia, Charlotte, Luke, Conner (Maddie), Greyley, Atticus, Gabriella, Jacob, Hunter, Hannah, Quinn, Azalea, Lark, Skylar, and Max Jr., a great grandson Barrett, sister Linda Mongan, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Christine (Tom) Schnell, Jolene (Brian) Schmitz, June (Chris) Schaller and Kenny (Joyce) Schmitz, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Stan and Ed and a brother-in-law John Mongan.  

The funeral service of Charlie will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the Verkuilen Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 2401 Fieldcrest Dr., Kaukauna.  A time of visitation will be held on Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.  For online condolences please visit www.verkuilenfh.com. 

The family would like to thank his loving niece, Shelly and her husband Tom Kettleson for their unwavering care and support. 

Special thanks our wonderful neighbors for their willingness to help over the last year as well as those who we leaned on at Compassus Hospice.

May we remember him exactly as he was: strong-willed, big-hearted, and truly one of a kind