Chuck graduated from Albion High School in 1965 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Nebraska Wesleyan University. In his time at Wesleyan, he helped found a new fraternity called Alpha Kappa Lambda. Chuck met Christine Landon at Wesleyan, whom he married on July 11, 1970, in Waverly, Nebraska.
Chuck received a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City in 1969. Chuck was ordained an elder with the Nebraska Conference of The United Methodist Church on June 2, 1973. From 1970 to 1981, he served United Methodist churches in Cheney/Palmyra, Davenport/Carleton, Ong, Shickley, Strang, Hebron/Belvidere, and Douglas/Burr. In 1981, he transitioned from ministry to banking and obtained his associate’s degree in business. In his six-year banking career, he rose to the position of Executive Vice President of the Farmer’s State Bank in Douglas, Nebraska. While working as a banker in Douglas, Chuck kept his ties to the community and ministry by serving on the Douglas Community School board and filling in for vacationing pastors on Sundays.
In addition to banking, Chuck’s career expanded into real estate and insurance business. In 1987, he returned to United Methodist ministry full-time. From 1987 to 1996, Chuck served Eustis/Farnam, Plattsmouth, and Geneva. In 1996, Chuck was hired as the Nebraska Conference Treasurer of The United Methodist Church. Chuck’s background in theology and finance led to an opportunity to work as regional manager for Church Mutual Insurance Company. He worked in this role from 1998 until retirement in 2013.
Chuck enjoyed travel throughout the state of Nebraska and beyond. He combined a love of photography with travel. After his frequent trips throughout the state, he often shared prized photos of church stained-glass windows, or courthouses from all the counties of Nebraska. Many of his photos have been published. While working at Church Mutual, he earned rewards for top sales that brought adventurous trips to Banff, Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, among others. Two favorite experiences were when he traveled on a Knight’s Templar sponsored trip to Israel, and later to England on a tour of John Wesley’s life.
Chuck became an author when he wrote a biography of his life titled Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise. He was an active Freemason in Lodges located in Ceresco and Lincoln. Chuck was an avid sports fan. He was especially devoted to the Dodgers, and Husker football and volleyball. The theme of Chuck’s life was that he made many connections and friends. But his favorite role was that of spouse, father, and grandfather.
Chuck is survived by his wife, Christine of Lincoln; his son Seth (Sarah Bernhardt) of Lolo, Montana; his daughter Anastasia of Coos Bay, Oregon; his granddaughters: Elizabeth of Missoula, Montana, Cora of Missoula, and Olivia of Lincoln; siblings: Doug (Nancy) Leypoldt of LaVista, Cathy (Les) Koch of Lincoln, and Steve of Beatrice; in-laws: Pat Dorr of Tigard, Oregon, Melissa Leypoldt of Lincoln, Shirley (Alan) Retzlaff of Walton and Bill (Cheryl) Landon of Greenwood. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Janice, Gary, and Jim and sister-in-law Kay Abbott.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, 2723 N 50th Street in Lincoln at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow.
Private burial services will take place at Cedar Hill Methodist Cemetery.
Memorials are requested to the Lincoln Trinity United Methodist Sanctuary Project.