A Life Rooted in Integrity, Leadership, and Quiet Impact
Honoring Charles W. Oswald

When my dear friend and neighbor of two decades, Katy, asked me to help plan her father’s memorial, I said yes without hesitation. Charley was a man I admired. He was brilliant, thoughtful, and quietly impactful. I had the honor of knowing him not only as one of my besties' dads, but as someone who once made me his famous cheesy eggs and potatoes on a Sunday morning, because that’s the kind of man he was... someone who showed love through acts of service.

Charley had a deep commitment to civic engagement and democracy. At Katy’s annual 4th of July parties, we’d go around the patio reading the Declaration of Independence aloud, each person assigned a section. It wasn’t performative. This was a long standing tradition in the Oswald family on the 4th of July. Charley believed it was our responsibility as citizens to understand what independence and democracy actually mean. And he made sure everyone at the party felt the weight of those words.

When I started a small floral business in the late 90's, Charley was among the first to support me. He ordered a dried flower arrangement for his office, simply because he believed in uplifting small businesses. That’s who he was. I loved the stories Katy shared... how Charley treated the mailroom team with the same respect he gave to the CEOs he negotiated multimillion dollar deals with. Everyone mattered to him.

Charley was also a passionate supporter of the arts. He collected important works and built meaningful relationships with artists. His homes were filled with thoughtful, well-curated pieces. He didn’t just buy art, he championed it.

Planning his memorial was no small feat. With six children, all deeply invested and each with strong perspectives, there were many spirited discussions about what the service should include. We worked through it all together... navigating family dynamics with care, ultimately creating a service that honored Charley in all his dimensions: Charley the Kansan, the Marine, the husband, the father, the grandfather, the sibling, the businessman & Harvard grad, the CEO, the mentor, the philanthropist, the art lover, the theater lover, the chef, the friend.

The memorial took place at the Oswald Visitor Center at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, a place that bears his name and reflects his deep love for nature and beauty. The McMillan Auditorium was standing-room only. The service ran 2.5 hours, because a life like Charley’s needed space to be honored properly. Speakers included family, business colleagues, close friends, and fellow leaders who shared personal stories that captured his legacy of excellence, humility, and impact.

I led the overall project planning and execution: securing the venue, coordinating the AV and music, including a string quartet and a few songs by Katy's husband, Gregg, designing and printing the programs, curating the floral design and decor, managing the guestbook (and shooing people into the room as the line was so long) and managing catering for the reception after the service. I also facilitated many of the family meetings, helping to guide decisions and keep us moving forward with kindness and structure.

The flowers were bold jewel tones, vibrant and dignified, fitting for Charley. It was brutally cold that day, and my florist doesn’t deliver on Sundays, so we hand-delivered the arrangements ourselves, carefully shielding them from the freezing temperatures.

We also brought in cherished mementos, including a stunning, handcrafted wooden table that Charley had commissioned from a favorite artist. It held his urn during the service. The details mattered.

The comments in the online guestbook from attendees said it all:

It was an honor to help tell his story, to lift up the threads of his values and impact, and to celebrate a man who gave so much to his family, his community, and the world. He still is making an impact, even today.