Charles Jeremiah Lundgren

Charles J Lundgren (Chuck) died peacefully Oct. 8, 2015 at home in the care of his loving wife and family. Chuck is survived by his wife Bernice, children Michael, Michele, Nels and Jerry, 9 grand-children and 5 great-grand-children.

Chuck was born August 12, 1930 in Omaha Nebraska. Chuck was adopted by Charles E. and Anne M. Lundgren and was their only child. The Lundgrens moved between Kancy City MO, Long Beach CA and Bellingham WA as Chuck was growing up and attending school. They settled in Porland OR after Chuck's father retired and Chuck graduated from Roosevelt High School. Chuck had a nack with mechanical gadgetry and shortly after graduating from High School at the age of 17, he joined the USAF where he trained and served as an aircraft mechanic. Chuck loved his time in the service and travelled to the Far East and Europe in the course of his duties.

Chuck met Bernice Oberto (B) while stationed at Chanute AFB in Illinois on a blind date in the summer of 1950. B was studying to be a teacher at Illinois State University. The two fell in love and the day after B graduated from college, they married in Wilsonville, Illinois on Aug 8, 1953. The two honeymooned on the road to Portland, OR. where B had a teaching position starting on Aug 27th. Chuck and B settled in Portland where they raised a family, living in their beloved Laurelhurst district and as members of the All Saints Catholic parish.

Chuck was discharged from the USAF in 1953 and held Engineering and Mechanic positions at several companies including Boeing and Freightliner. Chuck studied engineering briefly at Oregon State University, but his lifelong desire was in medicine. A devoted family man, the demands of raising a family superceded his own goals, until in 1970 at the age of 40 Chuck returned to school full time at the University of Portland, and in three years graduated Magna Cum Lauda with a degree in Nursing. Chuck worked as a Registered Nurse in hospital emergency rooms and thrived in the demanding environment. Chuck quickly rose in his Nursing career and would later serve in Administrative positions, until he retired due to health issues.

Chuck was a man of many interests and hobbies and could build or fix anything, from boats to airplanes to cars and go-carts, kitchen cabinets and rock walls. In the 60's chuck bought a 21 foot fiberglass hull and built a cabin cruiser in his one car garage. The boat was christened the Hunky Dory and in the summer of 1964. Chuck, B and his young family of 4, launched the boat and headed down-river on the mighty Columbia. The family met with many challenges on its maiden voyage including a bent prop, and high Columbia swells. Daughter Michele did land her first salmon and the family made it home a little rattled, but safe and sound. On arriving home, B told Chuck this wasn't for her and the Hunky Dory was put up for sale, selling the next day! Now that is TRUE LOVE!

Chuck loved automobiles and the family had many different cars and trucks over the years. Chuck's specialty was buying totalled wrecks in the junk yard and taking the torch and welding gun to them to reconstruct a whole car or truck. The kids enjoyed building mini-bikes and go-carts and later fixing up cars with their dad. Chuck was also good with wood and electronics and in the early days built a scale model Gemini Space Capsule for the kids to play and stretch their imaginations in. Chuck would build kitchen and bathroom cabinetry for his home and his children's homes and everything in-between. Later, after the grand-children were born, Chuck built toy chests and an elaborate scale model fully furnished three story Victorian doll house for his grand-daughter, Jenae.

Chuck was also interested in aviation and boating and over the years obtained his pilots license and owned a Cessna 172, dubbed Apple Annie (because of it's green paint) and flew out of Troutdale Airport. Chuck and B enjoyed river boating and over the years they owned and sailed both Sailboats and motorized Yachts. They were members of the Tyee yacht club until they sold their last boat.

Chuck's lesser known talents included a natural gift for sketching characters and for writing poetry. He often wrote poems to his beloved wife and left them on the pillow, in the kitchen or elsewhere to surprise B. His poems could be complex and romantic or simple, humorus and sweet; For example:

On the stove there's a stew,

I made it just for you.

Hope it tastes very good,

At least as good as yours would.

There's meat, potatoes, carrots and more,

Onions, bay leaf and sweepings from the floor.

There's salt and flour all through,

And even a pinch of love, too.

If I were home tonight,

I'd maybe eat some too, I might!