Obituary for Charles A. "Chuck" Lorenson
Charles A. “Chuck” Lorenson, 88, of Ironwood passed away on June 24, 2020, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood
Charles was born on September 20, 1931, in Wakefield, son of Arthur P. and Ellen L. (Larson) Lorenson. He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1949. He then attended Gogebic Community College from 1949 to 1950, Moorhead State, graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor’s Degree, and Michigan State University, graduating in 1960 with a Master’s Degree.
He was a member of the National Guard while attending Gogebic Community College. He then joined the U. S. Navy and served from 1950 to 1954 with two tours of duty with Task Force 77 in Korea as an aviation boatswain on three aircraft carriers, USS Antietam, USS Yorktown, and USS Shangri-La.
Charles was married to Rae Marie Burns who preceded him in death in 1982. He then married Mary Lou Schmalz.
He taught in the Ironwood School system for 33 years at grade school level and at the Luther L. Wright High School. He coached middle school sports, high school baseball, and track and field.
Charles was a member of Salem Lutheran Church, the USS Antietam Association, Ironwood Board of Review, Ironwood Carnegie Library Board, Gogebic County Road Commission and Ironwood VFW and American Legion posts. He enjoyed woodworking, painting, wood carving and making wooden toys for his grandchildren, hunting, fishing, playing the harmonica, and spending time at "Papa's Place" on Lake Gogebic.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Ellen (Larson) Lorenson; his first wife, Rae Marie; and brothers-in-law, Ron Sharpe and William Burns.
Charles is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, sons, James (Dee Dee) of Ironwood, Charles of Hayward, Wisconsin, Mark (Julie) of Stillwater, Minnesota, and John (Stacy Peterson) of Ironwood; daughters, Ann Marie (Brian) Lorenson-Johnson of Superior, Wisconsin, Marlene (James) Holden of Iron Belt, Wisconsin, Kristine (Len) Kalber of South Bend, Indiana, and Suzanne (David) Landis of Midland; grandchildren, Artem, Timothy, Michael (Margo), April, Kacie, Josh, Sydnee, Andrew, Ian, Dylan, Jeff and Greg; six great-grandchildren; sister, Karen Sharpe of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister-in-law, Bonnie Barto of Hurley, Wisconsin; special friends, Steve and Karen Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws, Peter and Kathy Burns, Dick and Ruth Nast and Mary Annen-Burns.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at Riverside Cemetery at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Nichole Hanson-Lynn, officiating Full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Charles’ name to the local cancer society.
The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Charles’ legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Charles was born on September 20, 1931, in Wakefield, son of Arthur P. and Ellen L. (Larson) Lorenson. He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1949. He then attended Gogebic Community College from 1949 to 1950, Moorhead State, graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor’s Degree, and Michigan State University, graduating in 1960 with a Master’s Degree.
He was a member of the National Guard while attending Gogebic Community College. He then joined the U. S. Navy and served from 1950 to 1954 with two tours of duty with Task Force 77 in Korea as an aviation boatswain on three aircraft carriers, USS Antietam, USS Yorktown, and USS Shangri-La.
Charles was married to Rae Marie Burns who preceded him in death in 1982. He then married Mary Lou Schmalz.
He taught in the Ironwood School system for 33 years at grade school level and at the Luther L. Wright High School. He coached middle school sports, high school baseball, and track and field.
Charles was a member of Salem Lutheran Church, the USS Antietam Association, Ironwood Board of Review, Ironwood Carnegie Library Board, Gogebic County Road Commission and Ironwood VFW and American Legion posts. He enjoyed woodworking, painting, wood carving and making wooden toys for his grandchildren, hunting, fishing, playing the harmonica, and spending time at "Papa's Place" on Lake Gogebic.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Ellen (Larson) Lorenson; his first wife, Rae Marie; and brothers-in-law, Ron Sharpe and William Burns.
Charles is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, sons, James (Dee Dee) of Ironwood, Charles of Hayward, Wisconsin, Mark (Julie) of Stillwater, Minnesota, and John (Stacy Peterson) of Ironwood; daughters, Ann Marie (Brian) Lorenson-Johnson of Superior, Wisconsin, Marlene (James) Holden of Iron Belt, Wisconsin, Kristine (Len) Kalber of South Bend, Indiana, and Suzanne (David) Landis of Midland; grandchildren, Artem, Timothy, Michael (Margo), April, Kacie, Josh, Sydnee, Andrew, Ian, Dylan, Jeff and Greg; six great-grandchildren; sister, Karen Sharpe of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister-in-law, Bonnie Barto of Hurley, Wisconsin; special friends, Steve and Karen Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws, Peter and Kathy Burns, Dick and Ruth Nast and Mary Annen-Burns.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at Riverside Cemetery at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Nichole Hanson-Lynn, officiating Full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Charles’ name to the local cancer society.
The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Charles’ legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.