Dorothy Charlene Borgman

Charlene was born in Wakenda, Missouri on July 5, 1935, to Paul, Jr. and Esther Atherton. She attended Wakenda High School, class of 1953, and graduated from Missouri Valley College with a degree in Education. She continued her education earning a Master’s degree from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, MO. Charlene taught in Tina Avalon School District before finishing her teaching career in North Kansas City School District in 1989. She was proud to have had an impact on the lives of thousands of children in her teaching career, serving as an elementary educator for many years before joining her colleagues at Antioch Middle School, where she spent her last few years as a 6th grade English and 7th grade science teacher.

In her personal time, Charlene enjoyed planting flowers and working in her yard every summer. She and her husband prided themselves on the outdoor landscape of their yard and the home they created together. Charlene also loved her time working at Peddler’s Wagon for several years after retiring from teaching. It was there she developed a talent for quilt making and was known to begin a new quilt just as quickly as she completed one.

Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, Paul, Jr. and Esther, brother Carl and sister Grace Bingham, and husband of 70 years, Walter E. Borgman.

She is survived by her two daughters, Marsha Norton (Dan) and their son, Ryan; Melanie Sweney (Michael) and their sons, Brian and Thomas; sisters, Maxine Hargrave, Jane Mai, Jean Miller, and Martin Atherton.

The family is asking for services to be held privately as a time to celebrate the life of their mother and sister.