Charlene Mary (Skripsky) Engstrom, 76, of Davenport, Iowa passed away Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House with her beloved family by her side. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 9, 2023 from 1-4 p.m. at Weerts Funeral Home. Funeral service will be on Monday, July 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Davenport with a visitation starting at 10 a.m. Memorials in Charlene’s name may be made to Zion Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.weertsfh.com
Charlene was born May 3, 1947 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Lumir and Wilma Skripsky. She was raised in a close-knit community of Czech immigrants in eastern Iowa.
Throughout her life, Charlene shared the gift of her lovely soprano voice as a soloist and member of multiple choirs, including the Augustana Choir, Bel Canto Chorale (Burlington, Iowa), and church choirs in Wisconsin and Iowa. Char graduated from Augustana College (Rock Island, Illinois) in 1969 with a degree in music education, and she shared her love of music as a teacher and choral director at public schools and Lutheran churches across Wisconsin and Iowa. Char enjoyed performing in musical theater productions, most recently at Quad City Music Guild.
Charlene met her husband, Carl Engstrom, while they were students at Cedar Rapids Washington High School. They were united in marriage on August 9, 1969 in Cedar Rapids and moved for Carl's seminary education at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Together they served churches in Waukesha, Wisconsin; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Janesville, Wisconsin, and Burlington, Iowa.
Char's unconditional love for others was always at the forefront of her church, family, and community life. She quickly formed friendships and shared warmth, hugs, and laughter with everyone she met. Char took her greatest joy in spending time with Carl, their children and spouses, her five grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.
Charlene is survived by her husband, Carl, children Jenny (Kirby) Winn, Davenport, Iowa; Matthew (Molly) Engstrom, Bettendorf, Iowa; and Joseph Engstrom (Christine Arslanian), Dandridge, Tennessee and grandchildren, Anna, Grace, Carter, Emily, and Sarah.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, Wilma and Lumir, and daughter, Kirsten.
Though her life was touched by loss and sorrow, she lived the hymn, "My Life Flows On In Endless Song"
My life flows on in endless song
Above earth's lamentation
I catch the clear, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation!
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
