Charles "Chuck" Edward Eicher, 95, died peacefully in his sleep on December 14, 2024 with his family present at his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Chuck was born June 16, 1929 in Bucyrus, OH and was fortunate enough to grow up there, surrounded by family and friends, enjoying small-town life and earning leadership roles in high school sports and clubs.

His lifelong career in teaching began after graduation from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in education. He taught all subjects in grade 6 in an Ohio rural consolidated school. He transferred to an urban school district and taught math in grades 7, 8 and 9, eventually becoming principal there. He continued his education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, earning a master's degree of education in 1962.

In 1963, he was invited by the National Science Foundation to participate in a summer mathematics institute at Central Connecticut State University. He returned to teaching junior high school mathematics until an opportunity arose to participate in a 4-year program in Experimental Teacher Education, sponsored by the Ford Foundation. This program was held at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and focused on instructional systems in teacher education. He was hired by IU as an instructor in mathematics education.

During this time, he earned a doctoral degree in education at IU in 1969 and accepted a teaching position at Dakota State College in Madison, SD. This led to positions as professor of mathematics education at IU-New Albany and University of South Dakota-Vermillion. He was also a visiting professor at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS for the 1979-80 academic year. In 1992, he retired as professor emeritus from USD. Among the many educational articles Chuck published throughout his career, one is in the collection of the U.S. Library of Congress.

He was very proud of having served in the Ohio National Guard for 17 years, achieving the rank of Captain. He served at the Ft. Sill, OK U.S. Army Artillery Missile School for 3 tours of duty, receiving distinctions as an honor graduate.

Apart from his long and satisfying career, his greatest love, joy and pride was his family.  In 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy "Dody" Fahl, built a life together, and had three children: Lynn (Gilbert) Sudbeck of Pierre, SD; Kim (Diane) Eicher of Omaha, NE; and Michael (Laurie) Eicher of Madison, WI; and three grandsons: Josh Sudbeck of Miller, SD; Matt Eicher of Lincoln, NE; and Jules Eicher of Madison, WI. Chuck and Dody traveled the U.S. with their children and after their children were grown, they traveled the world together.

Chuck enjoyed all travel (especially by paddlewheel steamboat), history, Big Band and Cole Porter music, Laurel & Hardy and Woody Allen films, and Big Ten (especially OSU) college football. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, and in 2018, his wife Dody, as well as many in-laws whom he dearly loved.

To borrow from W.H. Auden, he was our North, our South, our East and our West, and will be greatly missed.

A private interment ceremony will be held at a later date. The family wishes to thank Sanford Hospice for all their care, comfort and counsel, which allowed Chuck to stay in his home, exactly as he'd hoped, and with his children attending to his needs and wants. It was a wonderful life.