Obituary of Charles J. Alsheimer

Charles J. Alsheimer, 70, of Avoca, New York, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017, at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira.  Charlie was born in Bath, New York, on May 1, 1947, the son of the late Charles H. and Eleanor (Rose) Alsheimer.  On April 22, 1972, he married Carla S. Todd, who survives.  Also surviving are Charlie’s son, Aaron; his sisters, Linda Alsheimer, Virginia (Steven) Verbanic, Kathleen Fervan, and Lorraine (Allen) Kurak; and several nieces and nephews.

Charlie graduated in 1966 from Avoca Central School, where he was a standout basketball and baseball player.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967, and served proudly in Vietnam, achieving the rank of sergeant prior to being honorably discharged in 1970.  Following his military service, Charlie attended Corning Community College, where he played basketball and earned an associate’s degree in business.  He then worked for seven years in sales and marketing at the Gunlocke Company in Wayland, New York.

In 1979, Charlie left the corporate world to chase his dream of a full-time career as a nature photographer and writer.  He went on to achieve remarkable success, becoming one of the most widely published outdoor photographers of his era.  His images were featured in thousands of magazines, books, and calendars and won countless awards.

Charlie’s favorite subject, both as a photographer and writer, was the whitetail deer.  He was a preeminent expert on deer behavior and collaborated on groundbreaking research on the moon’s impact on whitetail breeding patterns.  Charlie authored seven best-selling books and hundreds of magazine articles on the whitetail.  He served as field editor of Deer & Deer Hunting magazine for nearly 38 years and as host of Deer & Deer Hunting TV, which aired on the Outdoor Channel. 

Above all, Charlie was a man of profound faith.  He credited God for all he accomplished and was eager to share Christ’s impact on his life with everyone he met.  This impact was evident in the way Charlie freely gave of his time and resources to so many.

Family and friends are invited to call from 1pm to 3pm and 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Buena Vista Wesleyan Church, 6034 County Route 69, Canisteo, New York 14823.  A funeral and committal service with military honors will be held at Buena Vista Wesleyan Church at 11am on Friday, January 5, 2018, with Reverend Daniel Pickering officiating.  Burial will be in Bath National Cemetery. 

Donations in Charlie’s memory may be made to either Buena Vista Wesleyan Church, 6034 County Route 69, Canisteo, New York 14823, or Family Life Ministries, P.O. Box 506, Bath, New York 14810.