Charles M. (Chuck) Tinder Jr., 75, of Las Vegas, NV passed away Friday, June 17, 2016 of Multiple Myeloma.
He was born in Joliet, IL to Charles M. Sr. and Bernice Tinder and attended Joliet Township High School.
He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1964 and Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA in 1965. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
After his apprenticeship he received his Architectural License, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Certification and membership in the American Institute of Architects. During this time Chuck volunteered to serve in the US Army Reserves and received a commission as a First Lieutenant and was assigned to a combat engineer and intelligence unit.
After practicing architecture with NBBJ Architects in Seattle he accepted a position on the Art & Architecture faculty at the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID where he became a tenured Associate Professor of Architecture.
In 1976 Chuck moved to Reno, NV where he designed and served as project manager in building the Comstock Hotel & Casino. After receiving his Nevada Gaming License he became a managing partner and operations manager of the 300-room hotel and casino resort. During this time he served as Chairman of the Washoe County Regional Planning Commission. His special event involvement included being a member of the Reno Rodeo Association, Reno Air Races and founding member of Reno's "Hot August Nights" festival. His casino design efforts continued with projects in Nevada, Texas Gulf and on the Mississippi River. Following a change in ownership of the Comstock Hotel & Casino he became the Western Marketing Manager stationed in Sacramento, CA for project/construction management services for hospital, correctional and educational facilities for the Kitchell CEM Corp. followed by a similar position in Boise, ID for Morrison-Knudsen.
In 1995 Chuck became the Administrator of Facilities & Operations for the Boise, ID School District where he was responsible for all district facilities including 50 school sites. He played a major role in school district facility master planning, successful passage of Capital Improvement Programs totaling $149-million and contract administration for the building new and renovation of school facilities.
In 2006 Chuck and his wife Barbara retired in Sun City Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV where he served on the Architectural Review and Common Area Properties committees and enjoying played golf, pickle-ball, softball and sharing a naughty joke from time to time. Throughout their life together and because of their love of travel Chuck and Barbara visited 35 foreign countries and all 50 states.
Chuck is survived by his beloved wife Barbara; children, Kari Mirich (Rock) of Cheyenne, WY, Craig Tinder (Jenny) of Charlotte, NC, Deanne Ball (Jerry) of Seattle, WA, and Eric Oase of San Leandro, CA; grandchildren, Christopher, Heather, Cooper, Tayler, Carter, Hayley, Emliy; and great-grandaughter, Cali; sister-in-law, Beverly Joutras; and niece Cindy MacFarland of Northfield, IL; cousins, Tom Marsh and Kelsie Marsh of Boise, ID; and many more family members and friends.
Chuck will be greatly missed by all who knew his infectious smile, spontaneous laugh, and pure love of life.
A celebration of life gathering for family and friends will be at the Tinder residence, 2816 Crown Ridge Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89134 on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in his memory to the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Dr., Ste. 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607.
Published in The Herald-News on July 3, 2016