Charles Leonard Laich, age 71, passed peacefully surrounded by family in his Lake Orion home on August 3, 2021.

Charlie was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on May 2, 1950 to Dorothy and Leonard Laich, stepson to Grace and Fran, brother to Mary, Fred and Richard.

Charlie is survived by Cathy, his wife of 27 years, his ex-wife Susan, mother to their children Rus, Megan and Molly and by his grandchildren, Veda, Watson and Baxter.

Never one for convention, Charlie lived an extraordinary and adventurous life, making friends all over the world while traveling, playing softball in Lake Orion’s “World-famous” Men’s Draft League, playing live music in a collection of colorfully named bands, spending days out on his boat and evenings sharing a drink (or five) at Vanagon bus jamborees, making extravagant Halloween costumes and throwing legendary parties.

Charlie enviably retired at age 50, after 30 years with the Bloomfield Hills School District, where he worked in maintenance and proudly served as his union’s rep.

He was known to many in Michigan as “Cheez”, and “Queso” to his friends down in Lo De Marco, Mexico, where he and Cathy spent their winters living in their trailer on the beach.

Charlie will be remembered for his overwhelming love of family and adventure, his generosity and respect, artistic creativity, sense of humor, some occasional well-known crabbiness, and most of all, his endless appreciation and excitement for the journey of life and his deep affection for those lucky enough to be loved and inspired by him.

A memorial will be held Sunday, Aug. 29 at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, 111 E Flint St., Lake Orion, MI 48362.

Services begin at 11 a.m. with remembrances at 1 p.m., followed immediately by a ‘celebration of life’ lunch and party at the Eagles Club, 317 Clarkston Rd., Lake Orion, MI 48362 from 2-6 p.m.

Charlie’s family looks forward to reconnecting and sharing toasts and stories with the amazing and eclectic friends he’s collected throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Charlie by donating to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences and guestbook:

sparksgriffin.com