Donald Charlson

February 12, 1926 - June 12, 2019

Donald Charlson, 93, of Fort Dodge, died June 12, 2019 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Visitation will be held 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2019 at Gunderson Funeral Home. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at Ullensvang Lutheran Church, Thor. Burial and military honors will be held in East Ullensvang Lutheran Cemetery. Donald Franklin Charlson, the son of Lester and Olive (Ashpole) Charlson, was born Feb. 12, 1926 in Lake Mills, IA. He graduated from Thompson High School. Donald served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. On March 26, 1948 he was united in marriage to Leona Campbell and they made their home in Thor for 43 years. He was self-employed truck driver for Standard Oil, drove school bus for Eagle Grove, sold Funk’s G HyBrid and later retired from W & H Coop in Humboldt. Donald enjoyed bowling, playing cards and most of all dancing with his wife. He was a member of the American Legion and volunteer for Thor Fire Dept. After retirement the couple moved to Fort Dodge. Survivors include his daughters Donna (Mike) Lankford of Fort Dodge, Faye (Paul) Ollinger of Eagle Grove, Lynn Peterson (Pat McFate) of Muscatine and Cindy (Jim) Pauk of Clarion; daughter-in-law Sharon Hayden of El Reno, OK; several grandchildren and great grandchildren, his sister Vivian and sister-in-law Hazel. He was preceded in death by his wife Leona in 2013, his parents, sister Dorothy, step-son Willard, grandson Jeffery, great grandson Travis.