Charles Chelstrom

Charles Leslie Chelstrom, age 58, Green Lake, died Sunday morning, April 29, 2001, at his home of advanced fibrous sarcoma.

Chuck was born March 3, 1943, the adopted child of Leslie T. and Genevieve (Zanders) Chelstrom. He departed this life as President and Owner of Fabriko Inc., a promotional products manufacturing facility in Green Lake. He spent most of his life working to make Fabriko successful, starting at age.14 with jobs like sweeping the floor at the minimum age of 78 cents an hour. After attending Green Lake High School, he attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO. From there he attended UW Whitewater untilhis father’s death during January of his senior year in 1965, when he returned to Green Lake to care for his mother and work at Fabriko. During his early years he worked in sales, and although he worked his way up to become President of the company in 1975, he always continued to sell for the business. During the late 60’s or early 70’s, he attended advertising school and earned the degree of CAS. On April 28, 1973, he married Ellen M. Dreger at St Johns Lutheran Church in Princeton.

He willingly gave of time and energy to his community and church throughout his life, believing very strongly in volunteerism. He served on the Green Lake City Council, a Green Lake comm unity planning committee, Green Lake Industrial Planning Committee, training workshops in Green Lake Public Schools, St Johns Lutheran Church Council, and many other community service projects. He served two terms on the Ripon Hospital Board and two terms on the American Baptist Assembly Board. He very much enjoyed belonging to TEC and the Summit, two groups in which business peers helped each other with issues in the workplace. Until a few years ago, he was a long-time Lions Club member, serving two terms as President. He was very involved in the advertising industry, serving on numerous committees over the years, as well as being elected to the international board of directors, of which he served as Chairman of the board in 1992-1993. In August of 1998, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the PPA1. In the summer of 2000, he was elected to the prestigious Advertising Hall of Fame in Dallas, TX, and with great pride, he accepted this award in January of 2001, during a presentation in Dallas.


Chuck loved sports, particularly golf, and established many of his strongest friendships on the course. Having lived with his family in the country for 28 years, he loved getting dirty on the land. He always spoke of wearing many hats, and could as easily lay a fence line or wire a house for stereo, as talk business with the best of men.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen Chelstrom of Green Lake; 3 daughters, Wendy (Gene) Norton of Green Bay, Leslie (Tyler) Lambert of Green Lake and Erinn Cheistrom of Wrightstown and 3 step-grandchildren, Krysti and Shane Norton, and MacKenzie Lambert. His parents preceded him in death.

A memorial service for Charles L. Chelstrom will be 12 noon on Saturday, May.26, 2001, at the Chelstrom home, W730 Sunnyside Rd, Green Lake. The Rev. Robert Pless will officiate. Memorials to
P.P.C.E.F.(promotional products college education foundation), for the
Chuck Chelstrom Memorial Chair may be sent to P.P.A.I, 3125 Skyway
Circle N, Irving, TX 75038 or memorials to St Agnes Hospice Hope, 114 N Pearl St, Berlin, WI 54923.

Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon is assisting the family.