Charles L. "Chuck" Jinneman

Chuck was born to the Jinneman family in 1932 on a 20 acre stump farm in Snohomish, Washington. This farm had a lot of trees and a very active salmon stream, so Chuck learned to salmon fish as soon as he could hold a pole.

He attended the Snohomish schools and graduated from Snohomish High School in 1951.

Chuck's interest in veterinary medicine led to a decision to go to Washington State College, now WSU. After getting his degree in 1957, he returned to Snohomish to practice with veterinarian Drs. Christofferson and Murphy for nine months before being called into the Air Force.

At that time the duties of military veterinarians included public health work and mess hall inspections, as well as animal care. Assigned to Okinawa for 18 months, Chuck provided the care for 75 sentry dogs and inspected the local procurement of produce. Also there were 600 pets belonging to the military personnel that needed care.

While stationed in Okinawa, Chuck was assigned to the Misawa Air Force base for 60 days, and enjoyed the train trip through Japan, from Hiroshima to Misawa and Sendi.
Short hops out of Okinawa also included Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Chuck recalls that the Chinese were pressing for the islands near Taiwan at that time, but a strong show of strength by the US held firm and the Chinese backed down.

Back in the US and out of the Air Force, Chuck practiced small animal medicine in Arizona for nine months. Chuck met and married Joan there, in Phoenix, followed by a move to Auburn, Washington where he practiced for 4 years.

Next came a move to Oregon and work for 2 years with the US Department of Agriculture, followed by 2 years of practice at Walnut Creek, California.

But by 1969 Chuck was back in Auburn to opened his own veterinary practice where he cared for all kinds and sizes of animals in the Auburn area for the next 30 years.

Wanting a drier and sunnier place to live, Chuck sold the business and the real estate in 1998 and moved to Wenatchee in August 1999.

Chuck says, "We enjoy the four seasons here, allowing us to ski in the winter and fish the rest of the year."

Joan and Chuck have four children, all of whom have college degrees and are doing well in their chosen professions. Chuck also reports, "We have been blessed with 10 grandchildren, with another expected in May."

Chuck is in his 30th year as a member of Rotary, having joined the Auburn Rotary Club in 1971. By 1980 he was club president and for 15 years he was the Governor's Representative in Rotary District 5030. A highlight of his Rotary life on the wet side was being named the District's "Rotarian of the Year" in 1998.

Now Chuck can often be found working on Rotary projects. He says Rotary means a lot to him and is glad that he now has the time to work on projects with other Rotarians.

Chuck is a Paul Harris Fellow and currently is Chair of the Attendance Committee.

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