Charlie Joseph "C.J." Deem was born on November 3, 1932 to Edward and Frieda Deem in Brenham, Texas. Charlie was an only child, but the presence of lots of cousins filled his childhood with many memories. He would play with his cousins daily, often taking trips to the "Little Rocky Creek" to go swimming in the summer. Soon, his parents decided to move to La Grange for his dad's business, but they still made regular visits to their family in Brenham on the weekends.

Shortly after, his family moved again, this time to Refugio, where he started school. When he was eleven, they moved one last time to Hallettsville. This is where they stayed and where he remained for the majority of his life.

During high school, he was very much involved in sports such as football, basketball, and track, but football was his true calling. He played all four years of his high school career and when he graduated, he was awarded a scholarship to play for Wharton County Junior College. While at Wharton, he had plans to become a football coach. Texas A&M became interested in him and offered him a scholarship to play for the Aggies, although he was unable to follow through because of a knee injury that occurred during one of his Wharton games.

Putting football aside, Charlie was drafted into the army and was in training when the doctors discovered his knee injury. He was given an honorable discharge and sent home.

He met his sweetheart, Loraine Konvicka, in 1953 at the Lavacan Café where she worked and they were married on June 18, 1955. Their only son, Perry Joseph, was born on November 28, 1963. Together, they took up residence on Loraine's family farm in Moravia.

Charlie was the perfect definition of a hardworking man. He held countless jobs throughout his life but many remember him as "The Ford Man," working for 13 years at Voskamp Motors in Hallettsville. Other notable jobs included Morgan's Portable Buildings in Hallettsville, Kasper Wire Works in Shiner, and Zavoda Mfg., Inc. in La Grange. He also owned his own mechanic shop called "C.J.'s" located in Sheridan for a while. He finally fully retired from Zavoda at the age of 81.

Charlie loved the outdoors and could not sit still for anything. He had a passion for hunting (deer, coon, squirrel…you name it), fishing, working cattle, and taking drives in his old red pick up truck. Ask anyone around and they'll all say that he loved telling stories, coon hunting stories especially. He knew everyone and could tell you exactly where they lived and who their mother was.

His two granddaughters, Colleen and Caitlyn, were his pride and joy. He loved taking them fishing, hunting, and driving down back roads. He taught them the importance of living off the land and instilled in them a love for the most important things in life.

Charlie was a tough man. Throughout his life, he had many health scares, both minor and more serious, but none he couldn't recover from. This time, God needed him to come home. He was an extraordinary man, who was loved and will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife, Loraine, of 61 years; son and daughter-in-law, Perry and Roxanne; two granddaughters, Colleen and Caitlyn; sisters-in-law, Linda Konvicka, Donna Konvicka, Arlene Holmes, Vernell Shanks; brother-in-law, Aubrey Shanks; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, Ed and Frieda Deem; parents-in-law, August and Rose Konvicka; brothers-in-law, Matthew Konvicka, Franklin Konvicka, Sr., Daryl Holmes; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins.

Funeral Mass Service: 2 pm, Thursday, February 16, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 12 noon with a Rosary at 1:30 pm at Sacred Heart Church on that Thursday. Pallbearers: Tim Henke, Ray Henke, Shannon Irvin, Ervin Neskora, Jeffery Holmes, and Franklin Konvicka Jr. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Memorials: Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church or Donor's Choice.