Charlotte Silkebaken

CHARLOTTE MAE SILKEBAKEN

Belle Plaine

Charlotte Mae Silkebaken, 94, of Belle Plaine, passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at The Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids. Services are at 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, at Christ United Methodist Church in Belle Plaine. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous, P.E.O. or the Belle Plaine Airport. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com.

Charlotte was born Jan. 29, 1923, to Almer and Anna (Nelson) Hage, in Jewell, Iowa. After graduating from Jewell High School, she attended AIB College of Business in Des Moines. Charlotte married Frank M. Silkebaken on March 17, 1946, in Des Moines. The couple lived throughout the Midwest, eventually settling in Belle Plaine in fall 1955, where they started Belle Plaine Oil Co. and raised their four children. Charlotte and her husband ran the company until their retirement in the early 1990s.

Charlotte enjoyed sports, watching basketball, attending University of Iowa football games (the tailgate parties were fun!) and she loved not only to watch golf but to play golf. Her putting game was awesome. She might be remembered most for her basement playroom that was a magical place for her children, grandchildren and neighborhood kids. Frank and Char's door always was open for friends and family to visit and enjoy a cup of coffee or a treat from the never-empty cookie jar.

She was active in the Methodist Church as well as a member of P.E.O. and Bridge Club.

Charlotte is survived by her children, Dennis (Barbara) Silkebaken of Coralville, Kris (Grady) Zangerle of Cedar Rapids and Amy Silkebaken of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; son-in-law, Jack Peter of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; grandchildren, Jennifer (Jobe) Price of North Liberty, Elizabeth Peter of Ponte Vedra, Bobbi Jo Zangerle of Cedar Rapids, Anthony (Jill) Zangerle of Marion, Katie (Rob) Olson of Cedar Rapids and Cate and Eryn Collins of Highlands Ranch; great-grandchildren, Addison, Emily and Nathan Price and Dylann McKay Zangerle; sister, "Toots" Mary Ann Van Langen of Longmont, Colo.; nephews, Craig Van Langen and Bob Silkebaken; and special friends, Judy and Wayne Parizek.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; daughter, Marcy Silkebaken; parents; two sisters and her brother.