SCHLENKER, Charlotte J. (1931-2017)

SCHLENKER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/31/2017 at 21:01:51

Charlotte Jane Schlenker
(October 4, 1931 - February 9, 2017)

On Sunday, October 4, 1931, Charlotte “Char” Jane Peterson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Mary Elizabeth (Howard) Peterson and Harold Edward “Pete” Peterson. She was their second child, her sister, Mary Joanne (Flaherty) having been born on July 4th the year before. Since 1966 Charlotte has resided in rural Indianola. Her life’s journey ended on February 9, 2017, after battling serious health issues for several months.
She was raised on the East Side of Des Moines, Iowa. Char graduated from East High School in 1949, and married Ralph F. Schlenker of rural Ankeny, Iowa, on October 7, 1950. Ralph was a graduate in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State and was employed by Iowa Power & Light Co. Charlotte worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., having passed up a scholarship opportunity to study journalism at Drake University. Char was active in her church and P.E.O., and was a devoted Cub Scout Den Mother and 4-H Club leader. She worked many years as an election official for Warren County and took her leadership role very seriously. Charlotte was awarded the prestigious U.S. Department of Defense Seven Seals Award for her work supporting the Guard and Reserve. She was an excellent cook. Charlotte won many grand champion and best-over-all sweepstakes ribbons in the culinary departments of the Iowa State and Warren County Fairs. She was most proud of winning blue ribbons for her sourdough bread for many years in a row. Charlotte delighted in sharing her baked goods with friends and family. She devoted her life to her family’s success, and was very proud that her three sons and two grandsons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. She also took great joy that her daughter, Mary Jane, continued her tradition as an excellent cook with a successful culinary career. She was devoted to her husband, who retired as an executive from MidAmerican Energy, formerly Iowa Power, where he worked his whole life in Des Moines and Council Bluffs. Charlotte was a lifelong Iowa State Cyclone fan and enjoyed going to games with her family. She and Ralph hosted many years of family fishing trips to Big Sand Lake near Park Rapids, MN. and enjoyed several family trips to Europe. Char continued to garden and cook until her last days. She is survived by her husband, Ralph; children, Mark F. (Leila) Schlenker, John D. (Kumiko) Schlenker, Robert E. Schlenker, and Mary Jane (Michael) Miller; grandchildren, Rachel and Mark of Minneapolis, Hannah (Carsten) Moeller and Paul of Indianola; two great-grandsons, Frederick and Todd (Moeller) of Indianola and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, and her brother in law, Frank Flaherty. “The heart that loves is always young” was printed near her photo in her East High yearbook, which also quoted her ambition as “to live a life of love and laughter”. She accomplished her goal and was loved as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother devoted to her family. A Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Indianola, Iowa with visitation held from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to service. A private interment will be held in the Greenwood Friends Cemetery, Ankeny, IA. Memorial contributions may be made to the 4H Foundation or the First United Methodist Church in Indianola. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, [http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]