Charles G. Bottrell

Charles Gerard Bottrell was called home to be with the Lord Friday, December 6, 2024. 

Charlie was born in Livonia, Michigan on November 29, 1959, to Jerome Alphonse and Elizabeth Anne Bottrell. He was their fifth child and only son. Most of his life was spent in southeastern Michigan where he worked in construction before entering retail sales. In 2000, he helped open the Home Depot in Gaylord, making northern Michigan his forever home. He also worked at Jay’s Sporting Goods and several auto parts stores in Gaylord, making friends with other outdoor enthusiasts and fellow “car guys”. He never missed a car show and loved his Mustang almost as much as his Harley Davidson. In the winter he could be found riding the trails on his snowmobile, but summer was for longs drives, concerts, fishing, and slow midnight boat rides around Otsego Lake. Though Charlie was raised in the Catholic faith and was a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Gaylord, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas in Elmira, he developed an interest in the Lutheran Church and converted a year ago. He became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Gaylord where he found a new closeness to Christ, and a new church family.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Constance Fisher and Celeste Wallin. He leaves behind his wife Julie, his daughter and son-in-law Kayla and Charlie Harteg, his stepsons Patrick and Daniel Dorrance, his sisters Carolyn (James) Bell and Cynthia Bottrell, along with nephews Stephen, Kevin, and Jeff Bell, and nieces Elizabeth Bell Titus and Emily Wallin-Kale. Charlie was blessed in August with the birth of his first grandchild, Piper Marie Harteg. Through God’s grace, Charlie was able to meet her before he was called home.

Funeral services will take place 11:00 AM Monday, December 16th, at Trinity Lutheran Church where the family will visit with friends beginning at 10:00 AM. To honor Charlie’s love of animals, the family is requesting in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Otsego County Animal Shelter. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his guestbook below.