Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
MONROE - Chuck Wellington has what most would consider to be an exciting career. During his time serving in the Air Force, he practiced criminal law. He was a prosecutor in Berlin during the Cold War and the days of the Berlin Wall. And as an attorney in Monroe, he's argued in front of the state Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Appeals.
But the days of a slower pace were always on the horizon for Wellington.
He's now begun that journey and can often be found on his farm, focusing on things that matter. He feels blessed each day his grandchildren can still visit him in his law office, just a short walk away from home.
He was born in Boston, but his family moved early on to the northwest side of Chicago, where he was raised. They lived on a small hobby farm; Wellington was the eldest of four children who spent much of their time outdoors.
The family lived near a forest preserve, and Wellington has fond memories of horseback riding often and canoeing together. The family would visit their cabin in Three Lakes where they continued their love for the outdoors.
Wellington said he was an OK student at Barrington High School. He was into folk music, and the self-taught guitar player was in a band that landed a few gigs. He also enjoyed wrestling and cross country. He graduated in 1967.
Wellington said he didn't really have a plan for his future, but a mentor he met in Canada during one of his family trips had always talked about Denison College in Granville, Ohio. He decided to attend the liberal arts school after looking into its lacrosse team. He never played before but was drawn to the exciting sport he would take on for the next four years.
"I decided it was something worth doing," he said of going on to school. "It was during the Vietnam years, and I wanted to pursue my education for as long as I could."
Wellington joined the Air Force ROTC program so he had some control over his branch of service. He knew the draft lottery was coming soon, so he committed in 1969, two months before it was instituted.
"It wasn't anything I ever regretted," he said of joining the Air Force.
He was still unsure of a career choice, and he said he took several courses trying to figure it out. There weren't any lawyers in his family, but he saw it as a noble profession where he could help people. He was learning about civil rights lawyers doing good during a time of strife and social unrest in the world.
He graduated from Denison in 1971 and headed to Washington University in St. Louis for law school. He said the school in the Midwest attracted him and he was glad he was fairly close to family.
Law school is considered grueling, and it was no exception for Wellington. His wife, Chris, was two years behind him and after she finished at Denison, she came to Washington University as well to pursue her graduate degree.
"There were certainly times when I wondered if it was worth it," Wellington laughed. "My dad didn't really like lawyers but said he'd make an exception for me."
Wellington knew he owed time to the Air Force after graduation. The criminal law and trial experience was exciting and enjoyable for the young lawyer. His first assignment sent him and Chris to the Kincheloe Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When they arrived in January of 1975, it was 25 degrees below zero and snowing.
He was there for less than two years before they asked for a transfer, after Chris nudged a general, telling him they'd love to be in Europe. They landed in Germany, and the location was perfect. They were within driving distance to the Netherlands, France and Switzerland. Wellington extended his Air Force commitment a year to be there.
"It was a wonderful place to be," Wellington said.
Wellington took on several assignments in Berlin, taking the train through checkpoints at border crossings.
Although they loved being gone, Wellington knew it wasn't likely he would make the Air Force a career. They returned shortly after their first daughter, Jessie, was born.
They headed back to Chicago where Wellington searched for a job. A woman they met on the Air Force base from Monroe would always talk about the small town. After Wellington ended up with a few extra copies of his resume, he decided to check to see if Monroe needed any lawyers, and sent one to Rod Kittelsen.
When the call came from Kittelsen, Wellington was tired of driving in Chicago and made the trek to Monroe to meet him. Chicago firms wanted him to specialize, but in Monroe he would be allowed to practice more universally. That appealed to him, along with the quaint, friendly town.
By the time he passed the first toll after Rockford on his way home, he stopped for a pay phone to call Chris. He told her about the town with a population of about 10,000.
"I told her "it feels like 30,000,'" he said with a laugh. "I told her "you have to see it; you have to feel it.'"
In 1975, the Wellington family moved to Monroe, when Jessie was just 6 months old. The sophisticated practice of law was exactly what Wellington hoped for. He said they never looked back.
"It's been a great practice of law," Wellington said. "You're involved with people, most of whom are your friends and acquaintances."
In Monroe, Wellington saw first-hand how lawyers could be an influence for good.
"In some circles, lawyers have a bad name," Wellington said. "But the lawyers I work with are people with integrity and ethics."
The community of Monroe attracted the Wellingtons as well. He and Chris have kayaked and canoed all over the world, but they always return and are aware of how special their own driftless area is.
In 2006, the family moved out of town to the country, and now Wellington said there's no place he would rather be. He enjoys planting prairie and has a small hobby farm. A blacksmith shop on his property is a place he finds therapeutic, and he enjoys both fixing things for the farm and being artistic.
He and Chris enjoy yoga and have taken all of the necessary hours required to teach informally with friends in their home.
Through the years, Wellington has always been fascinated with Native American culture. He said he's met many people during his trips and has learned Indian dancing and plays the Native American flute. He also collects Hopi Kachina dolls and said he's always impressed by indigenous people.
"They have an ornate understanding of how to live in harmony with nature," he said. "It's something modern civilization is having trouble prioritizing."
For more than a decade, he visited people on a Hopi reservation regularly. He took notice to their simpler lifestyle and appreciated their way of life. Since he was a child, nature has always been important to him.
In his earlier days in Monroe, Wellington was involved with the YMCA board of directors, and he is still involved with the YMCA Foundation. After his son, Jon, passed away, he and Chris became active in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Green County.
One involvement very important to him has been the Monroe Arts Center. He was a big part of the fundraising for the addition.
Wellington is now enjoying life and doing things that are important to him. Although he still finds himself in the law office often, he is happy to also be free enough to do what he loves most - and spending time with his family is at the forefront of that. He enjoys spending time with Jessie, her husband, Ben, and their three children.
"I just enjoy what I do," he said. "I have the best of both worlds."
After 40 years of work, it's hard to stop all at once, he said.
"We feel blessed that we found this community and given its Swiss heritage, I'm sure I'll never be considered a local," Wellington said. "But maybe my daughter and grandchildren will be."
But the days of a slower pace were always on the horizon for Wellington.
He's now begun that journey and can often be found on his farm, focusing on things that matter. He feels blessed each day his grandchildren can still visit him in his law office, just a short walk away from home.
He was born in Boston, but his family moved early on to the northwest side of Chicago, where he was raised. They lived on a small hobby farm; Wellington was the eldest of four children who spent much of their time outdoors.
The family lived near a forest preserve, and Wellington has fond memories of horseback riding often and canoeing together. The family would visit their cabin in Three Lakes where they continued their love for the outdoors.
Wellington said he was an OK student at Barrington High School. He was into folk music, and the self-taught guitar player was in a band that landed a few gigs. He also enjoyed wrestling and cross country. He graduated in 1967.
Wellington said he didn't really have a plan for his future, but a mentor he met in Canada during one of his family trips had always talked about Denison College in Granville, Ohio. He decided to attend the liberal arts school after looking into its lacrosse team. He never played before but was drawn to the exciting sport he would take on for the next four years.
"I decided it was something worth doing," he said of going on to school. "It was during the Vietnam years, and I wanted to pursue my education for as long as I could."
Wellington joined the Air Force ROTC program so he had some control over his branch of service. He knew the draft lottery was coming soon, so he committed in 1969, two months before it was instituted.
"It wasn't anything I ever regretted," he said of joining the Air Force.
He was still unsure of a career choice, and he said he took several courses trying to figure it out. There weren't any lawyers in his family, but he saw it as a noble profession where he could help people. He was learning about civil rights lawyers doing good during a time of strife and social unrest in the world.
He graduated from Denison in 1971 and headed to Washington University in St. Louis for law school. He said the school in the Midwest attracted him and he was glad he was fairly close to family.
Law school is considered grueling, and it was no exception for Wellington. His wife, Chris, was two years behind him and after she finished at Denison, she came to Washington University as well to pursue her graduate degree.
"There were certainly times when I wondered if it was worth it," Wellington laughed. "My dad didn't really like lawyers but said he'd make an exception for me."
Wellington knew he owed time to the Air Force after graduation. The criminal law and trial experience was exciting and enjoyable for the young lawyer. His first assignment sent him and Chris to the Kincheloe Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When they arrived in January of 1975, it was 25 degrees below zero and snowing.
He was there for less than two years before they asked for a transfer, after Chris nudged a general, telling him they'd love to be in Europe. They landed in Germany, and the location was perfect. They were within driving distance to the Netherlands, France and Switzerland. Wellington extended his Air Force commitment a year to be there.
"It was a wonderful place to be," Wellington said.
Wellington took on several assignments in Berlin, taking the train through checkpoints at border crossings.
Although they loved being gone, Wellington knew it wasn't likely he would make the Air Force a career. They returned shortly after their first daughter, Jessie, was born.
They headed back to Chicago where Wellington searched for a job. A woman they met on the Air Force base from Monroe would always talk about the small town. After Wellington ended up with a few extra copies of his resume, he decided to check to see if Monroe needed any lawyers, and sent one to Rod Kittelsen.
When the call came from Kittelsen, Wellington was tired of driving in Chicago and made the trek to Monroe to meet him. Chicago firms wanted him to specialize, but in Monroe he would be allowed to practice more universally. That appealed to him, along with the quaint, friendly town.
By the time he passed the first toll after Rockford on his way home, he stopped for a pay phone to call Chris. He told her about the town with a population of about 10,000.
"I told her "it feels like 30,000,'" he said with a laugh. "I told her "you have to see it; you have to feel it.'"
In 1975, the Wellington family moved to Monroe, when Jessie was just 6 months old. The sophisticated practice of law was exactly what Wellington hoped for. He said they never looked back.
"It's been a great practice of law," Wellington said. "You're involved with people, most of whom are your friends and acquaintances."
In Monroe, Wellington saw first-hand how lawyers could be an influence for good.
"In some circles, lawyers have a bad name," Wellington said. "But the lawyers I work with are people with integrity and ethics."
The community of Monroe attracted the Wellingtons as well. He and Chris have kayaked and canoed all over the world, but they always return and are aware of how special their own driftless area is.
In 2006, the family moved out of town to the country, and now Wellington said there's no place he would rather be. He enjoys planting prairie and has a small hobby farm. A blacksmith shop on his property is a place he finds therapeutic, and he enjoys both fixing things for the farm and being artistic.
He and Chris enjoy yoga and have taken all of the necessary hours required to teach informally with friends in their home.
Through the years, Wellington has always been fascinated with Native American culture. He said he's met many people during his trips and has learned Indian dancing and plays the Native American flute. He also collects Hopi Kachina dolls and said he's always impressed by indigenous people.
"They have an ornate understanding of how to live in harmony with nature," he said. "It's something modern civilization is having trouble prioritizing."
For more than a decade, he visited people on a Hopi reservation regularly. He took notice to their simpler lifestyle and appreciated their way of life. Since he was a child, nature has always been important to him.
In his earlier days in Monroe, Wellington was involved with the YMCA board of directors, and he is still involved with the YMCA Foundation. After his son, Jon, passed away, he and Chris became active in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Green County.
One involvement very important to him has been the Monroe Arts Center. He was a big part of the fundraising for the addition.
Wellington is now enjoying life and doing things that are important to him. Although he still finds himself in the law office often, he is happy to also be free enough to do what he loves most - and spending time with his family is at the forefront of that. He enjoys spending time with Jessie, her husband, Ben, and their three children.
"I just enjoy what I do," he said. "I have the best of both worlds."
After 40 years of work, it's hard to stop all at once, he said.
"We feel blessed that we found this community and given its Swiss heritage, I'm sure I'll never be considered a local," Wellington said. "But maybe my daughter and grandchildren will be."