Charles “Charlie” William Markert

Obituary

Charles (Charlie) William Markert died peacefully on January 19, 2026, in Hutchinson, MN. He was a father of 10 and a legend in the hot air balloon community. Charlie Markert lived 89 years full of love, dedication, and purpose. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on November 23, 1936 to Augustus Francis Markert and Florence Anne Winifred (Bingham) Markert. In 1949, his family moved to Los Angeles, CA. Charlie attended Manual Arts High School in the Watts section east of Los Angeles, and was accepted into the Chouinard Art Institute where he met Carolyn Jennett Schuergens. They married on November 12, 1955 upon Charlie enlisting in the US Army. Carolyn soon joined him in Germany where he served as a paratrooper. The new family of 4 returned to the states in 1958.

Charlie was hired as a billboard artist for Pacific Outdoor Advertising Company in Los Angeles. Most evenings and week-ends he also painted in his home studio creating commissioned oil paintings to provide for his growing family. By 1966, Charlie and Carolyn had 9 children, enjoying suburban life in Glendora, CA. The late 1960’s was a historical and tumultuous time, and Charlie yearned for a healthier environment to raise his family. The summer of 1969, after the Apollo 11 Moon landing and Woodstock, Charlie moved his family to the San Bernardino Mountains for a brief 18 months, where his children explored the forests, learned to ski, and also prepared them for the next move to a colder climate.

In March 1971 the family of 11 moved to the Midwest settling in Minnetonka, MN. Charlie worked for Naegle Outdoor Sign Company as their talented portrait billboard artist. His strong work ethic kept him busy with side jobs painting commissioned oil portraits, ballet stage backdrops, and wall murals for restaurants and private homes. In the late 1970’s Charlie started a unique business he proudly named “Sky High Art”, which combined his love of flight and his artistic talent. He designed and painted larger-than-life images on 80’ tall hot air balloons with a specialized paint formula he developed. Charlie’s popularity flourished locally and worldwide. On April 13, 1988, Charlie married Susan Marie McAllister, and a year later his 10th child was born.

Over the decades, Charlie hand painted and airbrushed more than 50 unique banners and hot air balloons, and some are still being flown today. His son Timothy and wife, Jodi, (both hot air balloon pilots) currently display two of Charlie’s famous hot air balloons over the United States to continue his legacy. Tim and Jodi set up a website to share Charlie’s art: www.minnesotaballoonrides.com. In his later years, Charlie embraced the computer age, and became technologically savvy. He enjoyed creating computerized miniature paintings and greeting cards on his iPad, sharing these works of art by sending them to family and friends on holidays and birthdays. Always expanding his interests and creative talent, Charlie began using nontoxic watercolors and paint brushes to create smaller colorful works of art, quite a change from the billboard sized oil paintings.

Happily retired, Charlie married Frieda Oberg on June 22, 2018, a longtime dear friend in the ballooning community. Then in 2021, Charlie moved into Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, MN. He made numerous new friends, being involved in the senior social activities, always taking videos and photos, and sharing them with family and friends. Charlie was also passionate about current events and expressed his concern for social justice. Whatever his audience, Charlie eagerly shared his interests, talents, and points of view. Many were blessed by his enthusiasm and appreciation for the creative arts. Recently, Charlie won blue ribbons and awards for his artwork entered at the local county fair.

Charlie’s legacy lives on in the love, creativity, and strong work ethic he passed on to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Charlie is survived by his
wife, Frieda Oberg, former wives Carolyn Aune and Susan McAllister;
sister, Barbara Hicks;
children, Kathleen (Frank Toffoloni) Fortini, Eileen (Mark) Sampson, Colleen (Robert) Pullar, Laureen (Paul) Markert, John (Ann Fontaine) Markert, Paul (Kristin) Markert, Timothy (Jodi) Markert, Janine (Sean) Larson, Christopher Curtis Markert;
nephew, John Mark Hicks;
17 grandchildren;
9 great-grandchildren;
and a host of extended and blended family members.

Preceded in death by his parents; his son, Kurt David Markert; grandson, Paul Schuergens Fortini; and nephew, William Hicks.