Edward Chalgren Jr.

COLUMBIA - Col. Edward “Gus” Chalgren Jr, U.S. Army (Ret.), 103, died December 31, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, with burial in the church graveyard. Reception will follow the service in Satterlee Hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Colonel Chalgren was born in 1913 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, son of the late attorney Edward and Anna Eckstrom Chalgren. He attended the University of Minnesota prior to receiving an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1938. In November 1939, then 2nd Lt. Chalgren was a part of the Army forces that converged on Camp Jackson to reopen it for the first large scale training there since WWI. Soon after arrival, he met Anne Lowndes McKay the daughter of Douglas and Anne McKay. They were married in Trinity Episcopal Church one year later, and shortly began an odyssey of living at several military posts in the US and in foreign countries. They were married 55 years and his beloved Anne predeceased him in 1995. In WWII he led the 3rd Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division in assault landings on Guam, Leyte (Philippines) and Okinawa. While serving in London in the late 1940s he participated with the British Army in early planning for the Western Union, which later became NATO. During the 1950’s he commanded the 31st Infantry Regiment of the 7th Division in Korea. Shortly before retirement in 1968 he served in our US Military Mission in Athens Greece, as the Chief of the Army Section and was lauded for obtaining helpful cooperation toward US objectives. He was a graduate of the Army War College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Command and General Staff College, and served on the faculty of the latter for four years. Colonel Chalgren was the recipient of numerous decorations, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (with cluster), Bronze Star (with V & two clusters), Purple Heart, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Ulchi Distinguished Service Medal and several Campaign Ribbons. His principle employment after 30 years of Army Service was with the SC Employment Security Commission where he served with distinction for ten years as an Appeals Judge. He was an active churchman, serving as vestryman and committeeman at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He enthusiastically supported Trinity music programs, and was credited with starting the popular annual "Community Carol Sing" at Trinity. Also, he was a member of The Military Order of the World Wars, The Purple Heart Society, The West Point Society, Forest Lake Club, The Cotillion, the Torch Club of Columbia and for years had been a Kiwanian. He was a patron of the Columbia Art Museum, The Lutheran Bach Choir of SC, The American Guild of Organists. Surviving are his two daughters, Nanne Chalgren Gargan (John), of Holliston, Mass., Catherine Chalgren Remington (Robert) of Spartanburg; a son, Edward “Ted” Chalgren III (Jan) of Columbia; his beloved head nurse, Lillie Wilson Watson of Columbia, SC. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. John B. Hoag of Colorado Springs, CO.; his brother-in-law, Julius W. McKay and dear wife, Betsy. He was predeceased by his two sisters, Mrs. Eleanor Marston Lutz of Eau Claire, WI and Mrs. Arno D. Martin (Ione) of Colorado Springs, CO. Colonel Chalgren’s grandchildren are Msgt. Edward Chalgren IV (Christine), Elizabeth Gargan Swenson (Andrew), Joseph Brace Remington (Erin), David Chalgren Remington, Douglas McMaster Remington, Mary Catherine Anne Remington (Nanne) and Alexander Blessing Chalgren (Alex), all precious to him. In addition, there are five great grandchildren. We are grateful for his faithful caregivers, Doris Brooks, Kathy Drayton, Valeria Myles, Marcia NuMan, Ray Sanders and Michele Walker. Memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.