U.S. Veteran

Charles Arlo “Charlie” Bull, 59, of Platteville, passed on September 30, 2017, after a courageous battle with Cancer. An informal Celebration of Charlie's Life will be on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at the Holiday Garden Event Center, Potosi. Friends and family may gather at 5:00 p.m., with Celebration services beginning at 6:00 p.m. led with Military Rites by American Legion Post 42 and VFW Post 5274. Memorials may be made to the Charles Bull Memorial Fund. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is assisting the family. Online Condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com

Charlie was born on August 23, 1958, in LaCrosse, WI, to James E. and Gayle G. (Webster) Bull. He was raised in Platteville, where he attended school; participating in many activities, including photography for the yearbook, drama, track and field and summer swim team. He graduated from Platteville High School in 1976, at which time he enlisted in the US Navy. Charlie served for five years as a photographer, being stationed in Florida, Mississippi and Sicily. After his honorable discharge, he returned to the US, living in the Washington, DC area for several years before returning to the Midwest and earning his Bachelor's degree in Photographic Engineering from St. Cloud State, St. Cloud, MN. He then moved to Texas where he worked in the photographic engineering field before coming back to Platteville, where he built his house while earning his Master's degree in Education at UW-Platteville

“Teaching is a calling”, as Charlie put it – and in 1993 he accepted a position at Potosi School District and has left a legacy as the Tech Ed teacher of over 25 years. Among his many accomplishments while teaching include: Yearbook advisor – taking thousands of pictures and spent countless hours at school events and functions; A fixture and elder statesman at CESA 3 School to Work Meetings; Trebuchet building; Acquiring a 3-D printer for the School District; Introducing robotics and PLTW (Project lead the way) to the curriculum; Class advisor; VICA advisor; and most importantly – mentoring, inspiring, and touching the lives of countless students, parents, faculty, family, friends, and even random strangers that would happen along the way. Charlie was passionate about ensuring that the common educational professional was treated with dignity and class. His tireless work for his colleagues and the students were his focal point.

In 2006, he married Linda Hudson in Platteville, where the couple has always made their home. Charlie's greatest joys were spending time with family and friends and walking his dog, Milo. With every fishing trip, road trip, boating trip, motorcycle ride, house party, holiday, music fest and vacation there are fond memories and great “Charlie” stories. His happy demeanor, tenacity, advice, and feisty attitude will be missed by all who knew him.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Linda, Platteville; children Trista (Richie) Reuter, Hammond, WI and Chealsey (Matt) Steffen, Platteville; grandchildren Ryan, Lucy, Zoey and Ely; mother Gayle Bull, Mineral Point; sisters Kelly Bull, Mineral Point, Patty Hartline, Fennimore and Becky (Jim) Reich, Hollandale; mother-in-law Mary Kann, Prairie du Chien; sister-in-law Nola (Aziz) Karim, Sedro Wooley, Washington; brother-in-law Mark Kann, St Louis, MO; nieces and nephews; Scot (Laura) Hartline, Lancaster, David Hartline, Lancaster, James Reich, Hollandale, Libby (Brent Rogers) Reich, Fitchburg, and Paul Reich, Mt. Horeb, Shakil Karim, San Francisco, Jenna Karim, San Jose; 10 great-nieces and -nephews; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, James E. Bull; father-in-law Walter Kann; grandparents Charles and Sylvia (Dettinger) Bull and Arlo and Dorothy (Goodman) Webster; and several aunts and uncles.

Charlie Bull

August 23, 1958 - September 30, 2017

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