Chuck
Bosselman
Chuck Bosselman, 67 of Grand Island, died Saturday, January 7, 2012 at St. Francis Medical Center following a courageous battle with cancer.
A celebration of life service will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity
United Methodist Church in Grand Island. The Reverend Jay Vetter
will officiate.
To honor Chuck’s wishes cremation will take place and family entombment of ashes will be at the Grand Island Cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
All Faiths Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Chuck was born in Grand Island, Nebraska to Fred and Maxine (Forbes) Bosselman; the second of four children. Chuck attended Kearney State College and married Janet Weise in 1965. They had two children, Charlie and Brandi. Chuck became General Manager of the Grand Island I-80 Bosselman Truck Plaza in 1967. Chuck was an integral part of broadening the family business from just Truck Stops to all of the businesses that comprise the Bosselman Companies. He was a key reason that the business’ have survived and continue to thrive in their 4th generation of the Bosselman Family.
Charles D. (Chuck) Bosselman was a second generation business owner
and currently Chairman of the Board of Bosselman’s. Bosselman’s
has been in business since 1948 when Chuck’s father, Fred Bosselman,
opened up the first Bosselman location, known as Bosselman Eaton, on
the Lincoln Highway in Grand Island, Nebraska. Today, the Bosselman
Companies have grown to include:
* 8 Bosselman Travel Centers
* 6 Grandma Max's & Max's Highway Diner Restaurants
* 46 Pump & Pantry convenience stores
* 1 Hampton Inn, 6 Motel 6s and 3 Pump & Pantry Motels
* 34 Boss Shops
* Sam Bass' Saloon & Steakhouse
* Schmooter's Bar & Casino
* Food courts including Subway, Little Caesars, Caribou Coffee,
and Wendy's
* The Nebraska Danger Indoor Professional Football Team
During the early 70’s, Chuck raced late model race cars and won many
championships, including the Nebraska State Fair Championship. He then
partnered up with the American Motors Company to race the only AMC dirt track
race car at the time.
In 1988, Chuck brought together a handful of truck stop industry leaders and
established “Ambest” (America’s Best Truck Stops), made up
of a cooperative network of 150+ of the nation’s best independent truck
stops. Ambest is still the industry leader in this demographic market.
In the late 1980’s, Chuck decided it was time to get back into the restaurant
business, and after 20 years of being out of it, he authorized the development
of the Grandma Max’s Restaurant concept. This concept has gone
on to grow to 6 locations in 4 states, winning numerous industry awards for
food quality and service.
In the early 1990’s, Chuck also green-lighted the Bosselman Company’s
move into fast food franchises. His Subway in Grand Island was one of
the first Subways ever opened in a truck stop, which started a trend that has
expanded in his own locations and in truck stops around the country.
In 2004, Chuck negotiated a deal with the nation’s largest diesel fuel
retailer, Pilot Travel Centers, and established his locations as licensed Pilot
locations. This deal secured the Bosselman Travel Centers as the exclusive
Pilot licensed locations in their markets and led to a boom in business.
In 2011, Chuck was the driving force in establishing the Uni-Maxx Truck Care
Network. This full service truck repair shop network includes 34 Boss Truck
Shops and 38 Wingfoot Truck Care Centers (owned by Goodyear). This
Uni-Maxx Network is now the nation’s second largest truck care network
with 72 locations coast to coast.
Chuck based his business decisions on the foundations of Pride, Cleanliness, Fun, Integrity and Friendliness, and earned a reputation by hard work, sweat, and commitment to the customer. Chuck's vision of being the BEST was hard-earned and well-deserved. Chuck did it all to ensure the company’s success - from cleaning restrooms, changing tires, hauling fuel and whatever else needed to be done, and he didn’t ask any employee to do what he wasn't willing to do himself. Because of his unending supply of energy, charisma, moxie, and intelligence, Chuck was asked to join several boards including, Chairman of the Board & Founder - American's Best Travel Centers (AMBEST), 1992; Board of Directors - Grand Island Community College Foundation, 2011 – present; Board of Directors - Hall County Tourism Counsel, 1990 – 1992; Board of Directors - Mid Nebraska Raceways, 1982 and Board of Directors - Fonner Park, 2009 – present.
His father, Fred H. Bosselman; mother-in-law, Lee Unzicker and three nephews and a niece preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, a Chuck D. Bosselman Scholarship Fund will be established.