Strinmoen, Charlotte (Zuhl) Christopherson 1923 - 2018

STRINMOEN, ZUHL, CHRISTOPHERSON, SADLER, SNELL, JOHNSON, AIELS, SNELL-ANDERSON, KELLER, KYLE, ANDERSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/16/2018 at 16:00:46

Charlotte Christopherson Strinmoen, age 95, of Decorah, Iowa, died Sunday night, September 2, 2018 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2018 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah with Rev. Kurt Bockoven officiating. Burial will be in Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation is from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 6 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Friday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at Big Canoe Lutheran Church.

Charlotte Zuhl was born March 2nd, 1923, in the small village of Lieberose, Germany, and was the daughter of Alfred and Marie Zuhl. Charlotte endured many hardships throughout her life, beginning with the death of her mother when Charlotte was a baby. She was then raised by her father until she was 14 years old. She attended school in Lieberose for 8 years, and was baptized and confirmed at the Stadtkirche in Lieberose. When she was 14, her father sent her to Berlin to live with two aunts, to have better opportunities for education and for employment. She attended high school/secretarial school and then began her employment at the age of 16, first for an interior decorator and later for a court judge in Berlin.

Charlotte was 16 ½ at the outbreak of World War II, and she survived several years of living day by day in a bombed out apartment with her aunts, having very little to eat while still working, and living in daily fear of what might happen next. But through it all, she continued to have a strong faith and perseverance, and it would be those characteristics that often helped her through the challenges in her life.

In 1947, Charlotte met Carmen Christopherson at a USO Club, and they were married on December 18, 1947 in a bombed out church in Berlin. Charlotte’s wedding dress was made of parachute fabric that Carmen was able to get from the Army. They then came to the USA via a transport ship to New York City, and traveled by train and auto to Highlandville, Iowa. Charlotte knew very little English, and came from the huge city of Berlin to very rural Iowa, with their first homes having no electricity or plumbing. But through it all, Charlotte learned the language and immediately began making friends. Although Charlotte had been an only child, Carmen had 13 siblings, and Charlotte always thought of them as her own brothers and sisters, and loved them immensely. To the union of their marriage, their children John, Helen and Ramona were born. Charlotte and Carmen began farming only to have to move to Ft. Riley, Kansas during the Korean conflict. After the Korean conflict, Charlotte and Carmen resumed farming in the Highlandville area until Carmen’s death in a car accident on September 24th, 1960.

After several years of being a widow, Charlotte married her second husband, Lloyd Strinmoen, on April 6, 1963, and Charlotte had another wonderful extended family to love! To this union, their son Adrian was born. Charlotte and Lloyd farmed east of the Big Canoe Lutheran Church, until they moved to Decorah in 1978. At this time, Charlotte began working at L and M Fabrics and after the store closed, she worked at the Vanberia Import Store for many years, retiring at the age of 85. Charlotte met many wonderful people throughout her employment at L and M, and Vanberia, and many of her co-workers and customers became her life- long friends.

Charlotte was an excellent cook, often preparing food for family and friends as well as for church events. Her home was always open to everyone, and she thoroughly enjoyed having guests and visitors. She was also an accomplished seamstress and expert needlework artist, sewing, knitting and crocheting clothing for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many family members and friends also received her hand-knitted and crocheted gifts. She was often hired to do sewing and alterations, knit and fix Norwegian sweaters, and do embroidery for people in the community. She also made several Norwegian bunads and vests. Charlotte and Lloyd made and donated hundreds of lap robes to nursing homes in Decorah and also to the Children’s Home in Waverly, and the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital also received many baby caps hand knitted by Charlotte. Her hands were never idle!

Charlotte was well versed in sports, the arts, politics and current events, and she was not afraid to openly express her opinion when having a discussion! She was a multi-tasker prior to the term being invented, and she will always be remembered for knitting, watching TV, having something baking in the oven, and carrying on a conversation at the same time.

After 46 years of marriage, Lloyd passed away and Charlotte lived independently, and although she never drove, she remained active with family and friends. She was known and loved by many for her positive and caring personality and new acquaintances soon became friends. Charlotte thoroughly enjoyed any social activity including family get-togethers, lunch or any event with friends, attending concerts and also grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events. Visits by friends and relatives meant the world to her!

Over a period of years, Charlotte wrote her life story, “My Life’s Journey from Lieberose, Germany to Highlandville, Iowa.” It was compiled into a book and published in time for her to present it to her children and grandchildren at her 95th birthday party. As others learned about it, they also requested a copy, and over 150 copies have now been printed and shared.

Although Charlotte’s health began to decline in later years, she remained as active as possible and continued to be as witty as ever. In the past two months, she was faced with serious health challenges, and as a result moved to Wellington Place in July. On September 2nd, 2018, at the exact age of 95 ½, Charlotte peacefully passed away at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, surrounded by her loving family.

Charlotte is survived by sons, Adrian (Valerie Johnson) Strinmoen of Minneapolis, MN; John (Linda) Christopherson of Decorah, IA; two daughters: Ramona (Dutch) Sadler of Overland Park, KS and Helen (Ron) Snell of Decorah, IA; six grandchildren: Carmen (Devin) Johnson of Decorah, IA, Robyn (Mark) Aiels of Cedar Rapids, IA, Heidi (John) Snell-Anderson of Decorah, Austin Snell of Iowa City, IA, and Garrett (Stacy) Sadler of Olathe, KS; six step-grandchildren: Greg Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, Katherine (Orlander) Keller of Bloomington, MN, Jamie Johnson of Apple Valley, MN, Luke Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, Anna Johnson of Eagan, MN. and Timothy (Erica) Kyle of Minneapolis, MN; eight great-grandchildren: Jace and Emma Johnson, Ethan and Fynn Christopherson, Cora and Lucy Aiels and Liv and Niva Anderson; six step-great-grandchildren: Anthony, Theodore, Louis, Desirae, Micah, and Beatrice Johnson; and Charlotte is also survived by numerous special extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands Carmen and Lloyd, great grandson Carter Aiels on April 16, 2011, grandson Adam Christopherson on January 4, 2013, and several sisters in-law and brothers-in-law, and many special loved ones and friends.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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