Charles Warren Tingley was born on October 3, 1963 and passed peacefully at age 62 on July 14, 2026 with his beloved dog, Buffy, watching over him. Charlie returned to the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan a month ago after recovering in Lansing, MI from a fifth stroke in October, 2025. He was at home in the UP, having moved there in the Fall of 2020, and loved being there this last month – talking to neighbors and eating at the local Bosio Biscuit Diner almost daily. He stayed in touch with his sisters, life-long friends, and nieces and nephews and he had many in-person visits last Winter and the previous Summer in the lower peninsula. Charlie was well loved.
Charlie’s younger years on Eastwood Street in Harper Woods, Michigan were spent with family. There were many playmates as his mother watched other children as a source of income. Days often included working in his Dad’s prized garden and listening to his Dad’s stories. His Mother would fix asparagus from the garden bed and can grape jelly from the grape vines. As a child, he rode his bike everywhere including to his grandparents’ in Grosse Pointe. Sleepovers at his grandparents’ were a routine part of his childhood; he learned a lot about building and tools from his grandfather who was an engineer. As a teenager, Charlie was an entrepreneur; his endeavors included anything that involved making money, including: sanding garage doors and painting them, delivering a paper route of 150-200 papers, and cutting grass. Charlie was very generous and often purchased necessities for the family with some of his earnings. Charlie was also involved in scouting, rising to the level of Eagle Scout. During these years, he could also be found reading any number of books in his room that was often covered in coins – he threw all his coins on his bedroom floor – or hanging out with Ray Steele, playing frisbee, bike riding, listening to music, and playing strategy board games with 30 or more page rule books.
Charlie went to Albion College and continued to read ferociously but perhaps not his academic books. Charlie lived at the Goodrich Club in Albion where he found a lot of companionship and deep reflections and encouraged many shenanigans. This is also where he and Margaret Kotowicz became fierce life-long friends. They were in college together, backpacked and hitchhiked together, supported each other through many phases of life over 45 years, and could even annoy one another under the right circumstances. Charlie loved Margaret’s intelligence and kindness and of course he benefited greatly from her love of cooking.
Charlie lived in Seattle, Washington and Royal Oak, Michigan for a period of time post college; during these years, he sold high-end audio visual equipment. Then, he settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan and ran his own landscaping business. This is one of the many ways he nurtured others by hiring people and mentoring them. He often lived in a communal setting, with a family or with other single people – sharing household duties and caring for one another as a chosen family would. He could make a great batch of spicy, homemade chili to feed a large group and would usually have a dense loaf of bread and real butter on the counter ready for cutting.
During his time in Ann Arbor, his sisters began having children and when they were little, he is famously known by his nieces and nephews as the best Uncle. He would attend Beth and Billy’s birthday parties and Beth recalls running in for a big bear hug when he would appear. He often timed his St. Louis trips for the 4th of July or Easter and he would carry one of his nieces on his shoulders on the way to see the fireworks. All six of his nieces and nephews remember that he always showed up with gifts, usually wrapped in bandanas and twine. Some of his standards were legos, board games (chess, go, monopoly, and risk), and books. He would teach and play games with them for hours. Once when he told Beth all about hobbits, she missed the vital part that they were fictional… although she figured that out when he gave her a copy of The Hobbit to read. Charlie’s love of JRR Tolkien rubbed off on Billy also with his love of The Lord of the Rings. He would let Katie and Jenny braid his beard. As his nieces and nephews aged, his relationship with them would evolve – sneaking away for a coffee with Katie or taking breaks while working on his tiny home with Christopher. We are grateful that he got to meet, some virtually and some in person, the forever partners and spouses of his nieces and nephews.
Charlie’s time in Ann Arbor was filled with friends. They shared memories of long bike rides, lots of music, paddling, long conversations musing about the state of the world, the meaning of life and what beer tastes best when, cross-country skiing, and endless laughter. One specific story started with what Charlie called a “bushwacking bike ride” (roots, grass and thick brush) and ended with being lost in the dark and cracking up so hard they were crying. More than one story was shared about him being a good listener and being present – whether he was welcoming someone to his college home, the Goodrich Club, or listening to a friend after a divorce – just being present and paddling down the river while they healed.
Charlie closed down his long-time landscaping business in Ann Arbor around 2015. He had some health issues and dreamed of walking the Appalachian Trail. He spent a few winters with his sister, Beth Anne, and brother-in-law, Chris, and their kids in Iowa; he took two trips to North Carolina to hike a bit. He also spent time with friends Margaret in Traverse City and Ken in Albion.
In 2020 he moved to the Upper Peninsula, this being a beautiful culmination of his life-long love of all things nature. He was craving clean air and land. He was blessed beyond measure by a neighbor, Jim Saari, who helped endlessly and showed him the UP ropes. About a year later he welcomed Buffy, his beloved dog, into his life. Buffy became a constant companion and Charlie literally treated her like his child. Charlie spent his time going to the local diner or organic grocery, eating Mexican food, sitting outdoors, building a cabin, going to the beach with visitors, and playing chess or joking with neighbors. Charlie loved this time in the UP. His sister, Beth Anne, visited at least twice a year while he was there – the first few years involved a lot of work but then the last few years the visits were lighter and they romped around to parks, food, and the lakes together. While Beth Anne might have preferred skipping another meal at the Mexican restaurant, Margie and Dave asked for two visits in one trip! And, what a trip that was, all the way up the Keweenaw Peninsula.
In the Summer and Fall of 2025, Charlie had a number of reunions with cousins, nieces and nephews and their new spouses. During the winter of 2025, Charlie had a massive stroke but recovered beyond expectations. During his recovery he spent material time with his sister, Margie and her husband, Dave, in Lansing. Margie will treasure this time forever.
Charlie’s life was marked by his tendency to care for others sometimes to a fault. If you needed him, he was there whether that meant helping with a tough situation or lending a listening ear. While flawed no less than anybody else, Charlie will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul and for his giving heart.
Charlie was preceded in death by his father Burton Warren Tingley and his mother Elizabeth May Tingley. Charlie is survived by his sisters Margaret Evelyn Bauer (David), Elizabeth Anne Tingley-Pigge (Chris); his nieces and nephews: Jennifer Fofana (Joe), Karl Fofana (Amber), Beth Vollmer (Phil), Bill Bauer (Sara), Katie Herman (Zak), Jenny Pigge (Emma), and Chris Pigge (Samantha); and his great-niece and nephew, Charlotte and Henry Herman. Charlie’s cousins: Janeen Beebe, Tracy Riffle, Jill Kidd, Matt Willison, Wendy McCartney, and Mark Willison all have fond childhood memories of Charlie. In addition, Charlie loved and was loved by many friends, including Margaret Kotowicz, Ken Shenstone and Ray Steele.
A Celebration of Life will be planned for October 3rd, 2026 (Charlie’s birthday) in the Albion, MI area; details will be shared through this web site and through Facebook and email. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you do something in Charlie’s memory for a person in need—wherever you are in the world.
Charlie’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent tot he family at www.reidfuneralservicechapel.com
The Reid Funeral Servcie and Chapel, L’Anse have been entrusted with the arrangments..
