Charlotte Ann Stange

Charlotte Ann Stange, age 81, passed to her heavenly home on Thursday, November 24, 2016, at the Owatonna Hospital. A Celebration of Char’s Life will be held on Monday, November 28, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Christ Community Covenant Church, (540 SE 18th Street, Owatonna, MN 55060) where she was a charter member. Pastor Brent Carlson officiating. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery in Owatonna. Reviewal will be for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Arrangements by Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Services ~ McRaith Chapel in Waseca.

Char was born on November 3, 1935 in rural Hughes County, Oklahoma, to Atlee Edmond and Eva Annalee (Littrell) Johnson. She attended rural Hobson School through first grade when the school closed, transferring to Weleetka Public Schools, graduating on May 21, 1953. Char participated in several high school activities including pep squad and FHA.

Char confessed Jesus Christ as her Savior in her early teens. She was an active member of Weleetka, OK, First Baptist Church and an officer in Rainbow Girls. At the close of her senior year she received a business scholarship and attended Draughon’s Business School of Oklahoma City, OK. Char completed a two-year business administration course in sixteen months, graduating in September of 1954.

Char met her future husband in August of 1951. Hank was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and was visiting an Army Buddy in Weleetka on a weekend when their paths crossed. He separated from the military in June of 1952, and en route to Owatonna stopped in Weleetka to say goodbye. An unplanned meeting on the main street of Weleetka in June of 1953, brought them together again. They married November 6, 1953, living in Oklahoma City through February 1955, when they moved to Owatonna.

Char was an assistant supervisor of the keypunch department at Federated Insurance, then a few years as office manager in local business. She had a passion for helping others. Before “Meals on Wheels”, Char and her family delivered home cooked meals to new found elderly friends. She was a leader of Girl Scout Troop #162 from Brownies through Junior High School. Char was a pre-school teacher in Semcac Head Start Home Base Program for ten years and area coordinator for five. While a coordinator, she was selected as a team member consultant for F.A.C.E.S. out of Washington DC. Their responsibility was to monitor Head Start Programs in selected US communities, reporting activity and making recommendations. She received numerous awards prior to retiring in 2002. The following eight years she assisted the family’s seven-year-old business until 2010 when she and Hank retired the second time.

Char is survived by her husband of sixty-three years, Hank Stange and daughter, Kari Ann (Stange) Fairbanks, both of Owatonna; cousins: Terry (Cal) Moser of Oklahoma City, OK, Kathryn Hamilton of Dumas, TX, Bill (Jerry) McCallie of Mena, AR, Johnny (Pam) Deen and Roddy (Donna) Deen both of Norman, OK; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Preceding Char in death were her daughters: Ann Louise and Lisa Ann; son, John Henry; parents; sisters: Mary Lou Johnson of Hughes County, OK, and Helen Allen of Atoka, OK; brother, Atlee E. Johnson Jr. of Hobbs, NM.