Charles Belvin Paige

Charles B. Paige was born on June 19 , 1925 and died February 5 , 2022.  He was the second of seven sons of Virgil A and Myrtle (Bloxham) Paige. He grew up in Dike and graduated with the Class of 1943.  On June 21 , 1945 he married Rosella Conradi and they were blessed with three children: Suzan, Diane and Joel.

They started their life in Mason City where he worked for Allis Chalmers and then moved to Aplington.  He worked with his Dad and brother, Lawrence.  In 1951 they moved to Dike and he worked and later bought the Dike Feed Store from his father-in-law, Bill Conradi.  In 1966 he built Paige's Royal Blue and later sold to the Mead brothers.  After selling the Feed Store they moved to Breezy Point MN and worked for the resort for 20 years.  They spent their winters in the south, mostly AZ.  They returned to Dike in 2000 when he became a good caretaker of Rosella.   She died in 2012.

After several battles with TB as a young person Charles lived a long and productive life.  He loved his family and enjoyed  his many friends.  He even played golf at age 90.  Bridge was a favorite pastime and there was a game every Friday with his children for many years. His door was always open and friends were welcomed for long or short visits.  In November 2021 he became a resident of Creekside in Grundy Center.   He was under Care Initiatives Hospice services.

Charles was a lifetime member of a church and ended up back to his roots in the Dike United Methodist.  He believed in the Lord and will be with Him in heaven.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, his brothers and their wives, Lawrence and Ruth, John and Marlys, Vernon and Bev, Clarence (Dane) and Shirley and brother Don, and his son-in-law Jack Bienfang.  He is survived by his three children, Suzan Bienfang and Diane Paige both of Dike and Joel and Crystal of Hubbard.  He leaves behind seven grandchildren, Amy and Audrey, Mike, Patti and Marty, Amber and Luke and nineteen great grandchildren and two great great grandsons.   He also has one brother Wayne and his wife Marlene of Dike and sisters-in -law Carolyn Paige of Texas and Gloria Gerstenkorn of AZ as well as many nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life at 2:00 pm on June 17 at the Dike United Methodist Church.  Memorials may be directed to P.O. Box 11, Dike, IA  50624.