Charles Jonason, age 88, of Brooklyn Park, MN passed away peacefully on October 4. Chuck was born on September 19, 1938, in St. Paul, MN to Russell and Dellis Jonason of Shafer, MN.

Chuck grew up in Shafer, MN on the family farm, the Swedish name for which was “Westorp.” It is this farm life that he credits for instilling in him the values of hard work, responsibility, conserving resources, faith and doing the right thing. His faith was nourished at home and by his attendance of Sunday School at Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church in Center City, MN where he was confirmed in 1952. His early church training started him on a path of an ever-growing faith and led him to the point of knowing that his citizenship is in Heaven.

He attended Lindstrom Center City High School, graduating in 1956. While there, he acted in two school plays, starred on the basketball team, enjoyed roller skating and was the class salutatorian. He was also elected Homecoming King his senior year. With much encouragement (actually insistence would be a better word) and support from his aunt and uncle, Alice and Jim Edmunds, he went on to college at University of Minnesota, earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1961. In 1960, he met Martha Hauschildt when Chuck’s friend invited him on a blind double date along with Martha’s roommate. They were married on September 1, 1962, at Gilman Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, WI. Together, they shared 64 years of marriage and built a life centered on family, faith, community, and travel.

Throughout his adult life, Chuck worked as an engineer for Northwestern Bell/US West/Qwest and retired in 1994. He was also proud of his church involvement, delivering “Meals on Wheels,” and supporting his parents’ farm operation by visiting most every Saturday to help with planting, harvesting or anything else that was required. Those who knew him will remember his devotion to family, always volunteering to help at the church, and his love for vintage tractors.

Chuck especially enjoyed yelling at the MN sports teams (mostly MN Vikings), fishing, playing solitaire, and daily naps. He treasured family traditions of having Lutefisk at Christmas time and enjoying his mom’s rice pudding. Chuck lived a life of outstanding service, providing countless acts of service to family, friends, church, and community. Chuck never saw a driveway he didn’t want to shovel, a lawn he didn’t want to mow or a deck he didn’t want to help build. Chuck enjoyed serving his LCM family in many ways over the 57 years he and Marty were members.

Chuck is survived by his devoted and loving wife Marty Jonason; his children, Bruce (Sandy) Jonason, Sheryl (Jim) Neuman, Paul (Jennifer) Jonason and Janelle (Ryan) Aamot; grandchildren, Kayla, Kelsey, Alec, Katie, Michael, Isaac, Jessica (Mike), Anna, Adam, April, Erin, Theo and Rosie; 6 great-grandchildren; sister Carolyn (Dale) Crosby and her daughters Kim and Bridgett; and many other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Dellis Jonason.

A celebration of life service will be held at Living Christ’s Mission (LCM) (1200 69th Avenue, Brooklyn Center, MN) on October 9 at 11:00 a.m. with a time for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Private interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to LCM or Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church, Center City, MN. The family extends heartfelt thanks to caregivers, hospice team, medical staff, pastoral care, friends, family, and community for their love, care and support.

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Grandpa Chuck lived an exemplary life for his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others. He recorded this advice for us: take full advantage of all the opportunities that come your way. You are all gifted with unique strengths and abilities and I know you will all succeed and continue to make me a very proud grandfather. On the financial side, give God the first 10% of your income (and you will be blessed as it describes in Malachi 3:8-10), give the second 10% to yourself in terms of long-term savings, and learn to live with contentment on the remaining 80%. You maybe can’t start out your working career this way, but you can work towards it over time. It has worked for me and I highly recommend it. I wish you all the very best that life has to offer.

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." Malachi 3:8-10