U.S. Veteran. Charles W. Hanney, 85, of Sunset Hills, died Nov. 2 at Missouri Baptist Health Center in St. Louis following complications from surgery. He was born Nov. 10, 1934 in Shorewood, Wisconsin, to Viola Wendland Hanney and Edward Hanney. Charles owned and along with his life partner, Kay Nienhueser, operated the internet business Olfa Deals, and he was an authorized master distributor of Olfa products in the United States. Until his death, they traveled to quilt shows across the country where he loved to teach and demonstrate his products. He relied on his exceptional sales skills when he owned a gasoline service station, represented the first StIHL Chainsaw dealership in the U.S. and sold picture framing mat cutters and quilting materials. His children credit him with a relentless work ethic that he passed down to them. The word “retire” was never part of his vocabulary. A U.S. Navy Seabee, Charles was a veteran of the Korean War. he also served the city of Fox Point, Wisconsin, as a police officer and volunteer firefighter. He volunteered as a clown at Shriners Hospital for Children in Milwaukee; and more recently every holiday season as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army in St. Louis; and as a lifelong donor for the American Red Cross. In the aftermath of the 2010 tornado that struck his neighborhood of Sunset Hills, Charles observed traffic on a busy Lindbergh Boulevard at a standstill. Always quick with a practical solution, Charles called his acquaintance the mayor, Bill Nolan, to suggest city volunteers bring out the firemen’s boots to collect donations form the stalled drivers to benefit victims of the tornado, and the project was a huge success. Both his volunteer and career endeavors garnered him lifelong friends throughout the country. Always up for a practical joke and adventure, he loved a good story, and some of his best material included the times he wrestled a bear, won a live minnow eating contest against a pair of lumberjacks, took a ride in an Olympic bobsled and raced snowmobiles and cars. Charles loved many things: the Green Bay Packers, Usinger’s sausages, strong coffee, gardening, stinky cheese, a “Wisconsin Day,” and most of all his family. He is survived by his partner, Kay Nienhueser of St. Louis; and his children, Patti Gohier (Pierre) of Wilsonville, Oregon; Timothy Hanney (Diane) and Betsie Alverson (Woody), all of Milwaukee; Suzy Hanney (Kelly Wallis) of Midway, Utah; Bruno Hanney (Lori) of Milwaukee; and Mary Reiman of Boise, Idaho; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister Sally Vandegrift (Richard, deceased); and brother, Richard Hanney (Roxanne), as well as nieces, nephews and countless friends. Refer to www.pitmanfuneralhome.com for information about a service to be scheduled later.