Charline "Chee Chee" Wallman

Charline Marie “Chee Chee” Wallman, 94, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2019, with her family at her side. She strongly persevered and continued to live life to the fullest extent possible during the past six months of hospice care.

She was born on November 4, 1924, to Charles Chesterfield and Marie Genevieve (Maher) Moore in Pelham, New York. Chee Chee spent her childhood there, in the New York City suburbs of New Rochelle and Bronxville, and at Stony Acres in Westport, CT, then later in Manhattan and Greenwich Village.

Chee Chee attended Southern Seminary in the Blue Ridge Mountains area of Buena Vista, Virginia. She graduated from secondary school at Linden Hall, Lititz, Pennsylvania, and graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising from Finch College in the Upper East Side of New York City.

At the end of WWII, Chee Chee welcomed home returning veterans at New York Harbor, and volunteered at a local military canteen.

Chee Chee worked in the early days of ABC (the American Broadcasting Company) in New York, for Specialty Salesman magazine, and at her father’s advertising agency, Moore and Hamm. She was a sales representative at the designer dress boutique of B. Altman and Company on Fifth Avenue, and was a marketing researcher for the fashion industry trade journal, Women’s Wear Daily, the sister publication of today’s fashion magazine, “W.”

Chee Chee met Charles J. Wallman on a blind date in Chicago and became his Honey Girl from then on. They were married on Flag Day, June 14, 1952, at Saints Faith, Hope, & Charity Catholic Church in Winnetka, Illinois.

For 25 years, Chee Chee operated the Fitting Room as a sales consultant for Doncaster, Inc., of North Carolina, and was recognized with multiple regional sales awards, and consistently ranked in the top 15% of sales representatives throughout the country.

Chee Chee authored a weekly fashion column featuring local models for the Watertown Daily Times and taught fashion courses at Madison Area Technical College - Watertown.

She was active in politics for many years, attending the inaugural ball of Wisconsin Governor, Warren P. Knowles, and was invited to President Richard M. Nixon’s inaugural gala in Washington, D.C.

She was a longtime member of the League of Women Voters, and was a chairperson for Wisconsin’s Women for Nixon campaign organization, and worked on the campaign of David Keene, future presidential advisor and President of the NRA. She was extremely proud to be her son Jeff’s chairperson in his Wallman for Assembly campaign when he was a 24 year-old democratic candidate in Dodge County.

In 2003, Chee Chee was recognized for her strength as a melanoma cancer survivor and as volunteer and board member for the Watertown’s Women’s Center with the Champions of Women’s Health Award by former Wisconsin First Lady, Sue Ann Thompson, President and Founder of the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation.

She was a dedicated volunteer and board member of the Jefferson County Cancer Society, and also volunteered at the Watertown Memorial Hospital.

She on the Board of Education at St. Bernard’s Catholic School, the St. Bernard’s Catholic Parish board, and was a parish Cub Scout Den Mother. She also volunteered as an elementary school reading assistant, and with Meals on Wheels.

Chee Chee was an original member of the Watertown social group, 30 Over 30, a member of the Watertown Country Club for over 60 years, and a member of the same bridge and book clubs for decades.

In her youth, Chee Chee played basketball, and was active in fencing, polo and horseback riding. She loved swimming and boating with her brother Phil and friends at her family’s summer cottage at Candlewood Lake in Connecticut. As an adult, Chee Chee enjoyed her rose garden, knitting, walking, driving, murder mysteries, current events, and coloring. She always loved traveling, and liked most kinds of music. She was active in Marquardt Village retirement community and Park Terrace Assisted Living, and was very proud of keeping her mind active every single day of her golden years.

Chee Chee was a loving wife to Charlie for 49 years and a devoted mother to five children and ten grandchildren. She was a good and loyal friend, and devout Christian who routinely prayed for countless others. She will be lovingly remembered for her friendliness, positive attitude, humor, kindness, and generosity.

She will be greatly missed and is survived by her children, Steve (Betsy) Wallman, Jeff Wallman (Finley Moll), Susie Sheldon, Poppy (Tom) Cooper, and Andy (Jen) Wallman. She is further survived by her grandchildren Emmett, Jones, and Maya Wallman; Charlie and Sam Wallman; Allie Sheldon; Molly McFarland (fiancé Ajay Vilos); and Madeline, Lucy, and Lilly Wallman. Other survivors include her dear friends Margaret Luchsinger, Rita, Grace, Karen, Gracie, and more.

The family would like to thank her cardiologist, Dr. Salim Shammo and his staff; Dr. John Basarich and the staffs of Watertown Family Practice, Watertown Regional Medical Center, and Froedtert Hospital. The family is also grateful for the caring staff at Marquardt Village, Park Terrace, and Marquardt Home Health and Hospice.

She was preceded in death by beloved family members including her husband, Charlie; her parents; her brother, C. Philip Moore; son-in-law Mike Sheldon; and her cousin, Marie (Maher) Wills White.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 11:00am at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church with Fr. Patrick Wendler presiding. She requested guests wear bright colors in memory of her happy life. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:30am until the time of service. Burial will immediately follow the service at St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery.

If desired, memorials in Chee Chee’s honor may be given to a charity of one’s choice.