Clarence "Chuck" Land, 87, passed away at home in the company of his wife, Emily; his grandson, Gary and wife Anna; his granddaughter, Doloros; his four great-grandchildren, Kerstie, Alex, Sean, Sawyer and wonderful hospice caregiver Will.

Chuck was born Sept. 20, 1923, in Cumberland, Wis., to Richard and Zola Land, third child in a family of nine siblings. He married his sweetheart Emily C. Maday of Minneapolis, Minn. He served 20 years in the U.S. Navy "where the fleet goes we've been." Stationed two years in Kodiak, Alaska, he was discharged Sept. 9, 1964. He was awarded the Purple Heart due to injuries sustained when his ship was struck by a Kamikaze.

Chuck passed away Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, due to a fast moving renal cancer. He is survived by four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He moved from Long Beach, Calif., August 1974 to Fern Creek where he lived on a 10-acre ranch with the three grandchildren. He retired to Coeur d'Alene in August 2001.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2011, at St. Pius X Church, 625 E. Haycraft, Coeur d'Alene, performed by Father Roger LaChance.

Donations may be made to Hospice Care, St. Pius X Church, or the Coeur d'Alene Cancer Center.