Cover photo for Charles L. "Chuck" Nordean's Obituary
Charles L. "Chuck" Nordean Profile Photo
1949 Chuck 2025

Charles L. "Chuck" Nordean

November 11, 1949 — September 1, 2025

Edmond

With hearts full of love and gratitude for a life well-lived, a family well-loved, and a God well-served, Charles “Chuck” Nordean was welcomed into the loving arms of a God he served so faithfully on the evening of Sept. 1, 2025. He was welcomed home with a sunset of that brightest orange he so loved.

Charles Linton Nordean was born November 11, 1949, in Ada, Oklahoma to Charles Leslie and Shirley Linton Nordean. Chuck grew up in Konawa, where the foundations of his faith and commitment to serving others were laid with his participation in Boy Scouts, the United Methodist Church, and school activities. He graduated with the Konawa Class of 1968, received a BS from Oklahoma State University in 1972 and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1975. He was ordained as an Elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1977. Chuck spent the next 47 years serving congregations and developing leaders in United Methodist churches across Oklahoma. He would remain a loyal and true OSU fan and a faithful servant of God his entire life.

Chuck would begin his ministry in Sapulpa as an associate pastor, then as the Senior Pastor for United Methodist congregations in Davis, Marlow, Lawton Centenary, and Edmond First. He was the founding pastor of Good Shepherd UMC in Yukon. He served as the Clinton District Superintendent for 8 years before serving as Director of Clergy and Congregational Development for the Oklahoma Annual Conference. He truly loved the work of his calling and the people he served in those settings.

While many of his friends and congregants became like family, it was his wife Dee Ann and his daughters Lesley and Paige that he cherished more than anything. Dee was his partner in ministry and life for 43 years and together they delighted in raising their girls in the churches he led and loved.

Chuck was a fan of the OSU Cowboys, high school football, the OKC Thunder, and anything his grandkids did. He loved reading, coffee on the porch, watching Dee Ann work in the flower gardens, but most of all being with his family.

His retirement years were gifts he would cherish even with a health diagnosis that predicted only a few months. His doctors were witness to his resilience wrapped in grace, courage, and a determined spirit of life and love. They became family. Their great care gave him 5 years filled with his girls and grandkids, family trips, holidays, Paris, the Grand Canyon, and a faith community of friendship and support.

He is preceded in death by his parents Charles Leslie and Shirley Linton Nordean and his twin brother Rus Nordean.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Dee Ann, daughters Lesley Wempe and son-in-law Joe, Paige Schmiedeberg and son-in-law Tyler, brothers David of Vienna, Virginia, and Alan of Tulsa and his four beloved grandchildren Kenneth Wempe, Reed Wempe, William Schmiedeberg, and Nora Schmiedeberg.

A celebration of Chuck’s life will be held at 11 am on September 20, 2025, at Edmond First United Methodist Church. In honor of his love for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, guests are invited to wear orange. 

Memorial donations can be made to Edmond First United Methodist Church.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles L. "Chuck" Nordean, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Service

Saturday, September 20, 2025

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)

Add to Calendar

Edmond First United Methodist Church

305 E Hurd St, Edmond, OK 73034

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 777

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree