Charles H. “Chipper” Condon

KING/ MONTELLO/PORTAGE  --  Charles H. “Chipper” Condon, age 92, of Portage, passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Home, in King, Wisconsin

Charles was the 7th of 8 children born on June, “the 10th”, 1924, in Portage, to Robert and DeEtta (Metzler) Condon.  He graduated from Portage High School in 1943.  He was very athletic, known for his football and boxing skills, being honored in 2009 as a member to the early era Portage Hall of Fame for boxing.  He served in the United States Army in the 82nd Division from 1943 to 1947, serving as a paratrooper in the 106th Infantry division, surviving the Battle of the Bulge and Normandy conflicts during World War II.  He married Augusta LeVon Davis in 1946 and to this marriage, 3 daughters were born, Susan, Sandra, and Sari.  They divorced in 1956.  He married Glenda Koontz on August 23, 1961, and to this marriage, their son Brad was born.  Chipper and his brothers owned and operated Condon’s Bar in Portage from prohibition time to 1986 and enjoyed serving a great clientele for those years that was always kept in good control by the Condon Brothers, Glenda, and Cecil. Following his retirement from the tavern, he worked at the Wisconsin Dells Greyhound Park in Lake Delton.  He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman and always enjoyed training and watching his dogs field pheasants or track rabbits, particularly his beloved Vizsla Lab, and Beagle companions, including Penny, Lucy, Al, Buford and Rosie to name a few.   He also enjoyed having a large garden.  Chipper resided with his son Brad and his wife Sue and their daughter Bryn for the last 7 years until his health status further declined and they transferred him to King Veteran’s Home in April, 2016. 

Charles is survived by his sister, Jean (married to Edward who is deceased) Nowak of Samanish, WA, son, Brad (Sue) Condon, of Montello; his daughters, Susan (Bill) Metzdorff, of Chicago, IL, Sandra Condon Clark, and Sari (Michael) Graham, all of San Diego, CA; his grandchildren, Benjamin (Penny) Clark, of Sun Prairie, and Bryn Condon, of Montello; his great-grandchildren, Sofia and Liam Clark of Sun Prairie, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, LeVon, and his second wife, Glenda, in addition to 6 of his eight siblings including his brothers Robert (“Bobby” and wife Grace MacFarlan), John (“Jack” married to Mae Cline), and Chipper’s twin, Thomas, as well as his sisters Carol (married to Anthony Guerin then Christopher Siegel), Cecil (married to William) Doyle, and Grace (married to Earl Atkinson).                

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2016 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl presiding.  Military Honors provided by Portage Area Veterans will be held after the Mass at the church.  Inurnment will be private.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with a Rosary led by the Knights of Columbus held at 4:30 p.m. with eulogy to follow, and on Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s School or the Columbia County Humane Society.