Charles Chromy, 73
Charles John Charlie Chromy, 73, of Reno, NV, formerly of New Prague and Cody, WY, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at his home.
Charlie was born August 1, 1937, in New Prague, a son of Stanley W. and Mary (Horejsi) Chromy. He graduated from New Prague High School in 1955. He joined the U.S. Navy, and served in Korea. After an honorable discharge in 1957, he returned to New Prague and married Nancy Petersen in 1959. Charlie raised his family on a farm south of New Prague and started Chromy Construction Inc. in 1969, building and remodeling houses and doing small commercial until 1975. Career opportunities and a love for hunting and fishing led Charlie to Cody, WY, where he was employed as construction superintendent for S.D. Spiegelberg and later for Julian Construction. During his career he supervised the construction of numerous schools, hospitals, commercial and government buildings throughout the Rocky Mountain states. Some of the more notable of his accomplishments were the restoration of the historic Lake Hotel in Yellowstone Park and the construction of cell phone towers from North Dakota to Colorado. After his retirement, Charlie enjoyed working with his good friend, John Darby, owner of the famous Irma Hotel, a well-known landmark in Cody built by Buffalo Bill in 1902. Charlie married his second wife, Karen Ernst, in 1997, and moved to Reno, NV. It was there that Charlie found a new passion, growing and taking care of his beautiful rose garden.
He is survived by his wife; children Sue (Jerry) Koehnen, New Prague, Mike (Christine) Chromy, Casper, WY, Mary Kris (Rich) Olmsted, Powell, WY, Jean (Paul) Meyer, Lonsdale, and Terry (Jess) Chromy, Minneapolis; his former wife; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; siblings Mary Jo (Larry) Sirek, New Prague, Ann Marie (Brian) Becker, Crystal, Stanley Jr. (Violet), New Prague, John (Nora), Washington, D.C., Richard (Jan), Gilman, WI, and Tom (Diane), New Prague.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter Debbie; a brother Art; and sister Kathy Hallet.
A memorial service will be held at the Irma Hotel in Cody, WY, on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
