Lt. Colonel Charles E. "Chuck" Munier, a
Wyoming Army National Guardsman who was also co-owner of
Wheatland Mercantile, died after a suffering a stroke while serving in
Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afganistan National Army. His wife,
Nancy Munier, said that her
husband suffered the stroke on June 5, soon after
returning to Afghanistan following a short leave in
Wheatland. He was transferred to Germany and then to
Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.,
where he died on June 12.
Charles Munier's military career spanned nearly 28 years.
He was born on May 26, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was
a member of the Boy Scouts of America since 1965. He was
commissioned into the Wyoming Army National Guard on
December 22, 1978,(UW fall class 1979) serving with the 141st
Military Police
in Casper until transferring to active duty in December
1980. After leaving active duty status in August 1992, he
transferred to reserve status and served as an assistant
professor of military science at the University of
Wyoming and as an admissions field representative for the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Later he served with the
Nebraska National Guard and then transfered to the
Wyoming National Guard in 2001.
Nancy Munier said that she and Charles purchased
the Mercantile Building in September 2001, but after 9/11, he was called to active duty and volunteered for duty
in Afghanistan. This past January, he sent her a picture
of himself feeding rice to Afghan refugees, of which she
said, "I've never seen him happier."
Nancy Munier says that just prior to his return to
Afghanistan, Charles had taken a two-week leave to come
home and "help us expand our bookstore," she said.
Wheatland Mercantile is a 103-year-old building housing a
gunsmith; supplies for beading, needlework,
handmade crafts; assorted dry goods; and the Book Nook.
When the quilt store moved into a different location,
Nancy said they decided to expand the bookstore.
Charles Munier is survived by his wife, Nancy; his
daughter Victoria and her husband, Jef Rice of Wheatland;
He was preceeded in death by a brother, Dean F.
Munier; grandfather, Charles R. Meider; and grandson,
Rustle R. Rice. Funeral services were on Saturday, June
17, at the United Methodist Church in Wheatland.
Donations may be made to Boy Scouts of America, or any other
charity of your choice.
Thank you for thinking of us during this time of change in our lives.
