Charles Dennis Bolan

Charles "Charlie" Dennis Bolan, 44 years young, of Cannon Falls, left this world, leaving a few unopened beers and trophy bucks behind on September 2nd, 2026.

Charlie was born on August 8th, 1982, in Northfield MN. He spent his formative years exactly how you would expect: Outdoors when possible, singing "Do the Bartman" when alone in his room, and relentlessly picking on his sisters. As a graduate of Northfield High School in 2001, Charlie accomplished the rare feat of performing well while driving the faculty crazy. He developed a near-professional level of making trouble... and then talking his way out of it.

After high school, Charlie spent time attending the University of Minnesota, Comair Flight School in Sandford Florida, and trying his hand at several jobs in the trades. He landed as a roofing contractor and spent some years traveling the country to tackle various markets. During this time, he met his future ex-wife Christine Lampi when a family friend sent her his way for a job. In 2017, they welcomed his beloved twin boys, Dennis and Kane.

Charlie was never one to brag about himself, but there was no hiding how proud he was of his boys. Although Kane was born with serious medical issues, including a faulty heart, and spent much of his time at Mayo Clinic receiving treatment, Charlie threw himself at the situation and did everything possible to improve it. Countless hours were spent researching and becoming an amateur medical professional. Without a doubt, he challenged the patience of many medical professionals, but everyone knew he was doing everything he could to give Kane the best life possible - both in and out of the hospital. After a courageous 7 years, Kane left this world, and Charlie carried that loss heavily. He loved his boys dearly, and his dedication to both was easy to see. He absolutely loved sharing his love of the outdoors with them, and he gave Dennis a great start on life, teaching him about the woods, water, garden, kitchen and lifelong lessons that will stick. He loved spending time with Dennis - and he got a taste of his own medicine more than once with Dennis' quick wit and intelligence. Making sure the boys got a good education was very important to him.

Many of Charlie's best traits came from his parents. From his dad, he learned a deep love of the outdoors - he was his dad's best hunting buddy. Childhood hunting and fishing trips became lifelong passions. He enjoyed many days working on his hunting land, planting trees and food plots, always looking for ways to make the land just a little better. From his mother, he inherited a remarkable green thumb, attention to detail and research, and an impressive ability in the kitchen, especially with wild game. If Charlie harvested it from the field or garden, it likely would turn into a meal worth repeating.

We are forever grateful that Charlie learned CPR and stayed calm in a crisis; he and his best friend were able to help save his dad after he collapsed from a major heart attack last September. He had also successfully performed CPR on sweet Kane multiple times in the weeks before Kane passed.

He was one of a kind. Charlie never took life too seriously. He always had a sense of humor and seemed to find a way to make people laugh, even when the situation probably called for anything but laughter. If an awkward situation arose, no doubt he could make it more awkward with a perfectly ill-timed joke. If Charlie was around, there was usually a story being told, a beer being enjoyed, or some kind of adventure getting planned - or all 3 at the same time.

His humor, his stories, his stubbornness and his willingness to turn an ordinary day into an adventure (or a mess), will not be forgotten.

Charlie is survived by his incredible son Dennis; his parents, Dennis and Barb Bolan; sisters Andrea Bolan (Andy Miller), Erica (Warren) Coan; nieces and nephews Danielle, Reid, Erin, Cooper, Griffin, and LaRhea; girlfriend Lezlie Grant; lifelong partner in crime & best friend Clint Grandahl; many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his warrior son, Kane; paternal grandparents Charles and Donna Bolan; maternal grandparents Stanley and Geraldine Drewry; and paternal aunt Barb Tronnier.

A memorial service will be held 3:00 pm Saturday, September 12 at Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls. This service will be live-streamed and available to watch below. A visitation from 1:30- 3:00 pm will proceed the service and a light meal will follow, also at the church. To honor Charlie's love of hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors, camo attire is encouraged.

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in Charlie's service via Livestream. You can watch the service on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 3:00 pm. It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page and clicking PLAY to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having trouble with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.