In Memory

Charlene Youngkin (Paulson)

Charlene Youngkin (Paulson)

Charlene Kay Youngkin Paulson, age 74, was living in Minnetonka, MN at the time of her death on September 28, 2014.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in 2005, and her parents, two nephews and one niece.  She is survived by an older sister, Connie Olson, who also graduated from St. Louis Park High, with the Class of 1955.  Charlene and Bob bought a house in Minnetonka in 1965 and Charlene has been there for the past 49 years.  She and Bob spent a lot of time enjoying dancing together just for fun.

Charlene never had any children of her own.  But her sister had six children, and she relates that Charlene and Connie agreed that six was enough between the two of them; and therefore it is not surprising that Charlene was one of the most sought after "Aunties" in the whole family.  She was loved by all her nieces and nephews, who always knew that Aunt Charlene would be there for them in the hour of their need.  Many cats and dogs have lived with Charlene over the years, and at the time of her passing she had a wonderful kitten named Snuggles.
 

Charlene had been a survivor of breast cancer for over 25 years, ever since 1989.  Yet for some odd reason, which her family has yet to understand, the very site of that cancer that had been removed so long ago, turned out to be the location of a series of aggressive tumors that settled in her upper right lung and which ultimately, and rather quickly, claimed her life.  She had made many trips of late in and out of Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, in an effort to stay on top of these tumors; but finally decided to yield in the final battle with this aggressive cancer.

Charlene went to work for American Hardware Mutual Insurance Company the Monday after our high school graduation on June 5, 1958, and stayed at that company for 50 years, taking only 4 years off to start a taxi business with her husband; then she finally retired in 2010 at age 70.  She married husband Bob in 1962, and they had 43 years together before he died.  In many respects, Charlene's life was a true testimonial to dedication -- to her husband, to family, to employer, to charitable causes and to her pets.

Charlene did an enormous amount of charity work her entire life -- both through her church and on her own.  She bought items she found were wanted by needy families around Christmas time, and she was a constant worker at her local branch of Feed My Starving Children.  She gave so willingly of herself, saying to her sister, "Since I can't take it with me, I might as well just give it away to those that need it more than I do!"

A memorial service for Charlene was held on October 25, 2014, at the Minnetonka SDA Church that was for her a very important part of her life and charity work for many years.  In fact, at that church she was a Sunday School kindergarten teacher for 18 years, a Greeter, a Deaconess and also worked with their Community Service program for many years.

In our Echowan it was written about Charlene that, "One often wonders what is hidden under a calm exterior."  I guess that now we have the answer to that proverbial question.  Therein lies a "giver" of extraordinary dimensions.
 



 
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10/28/14 10:39 PM #1    

Mary Reid (Brooks)

What a beautiful memorial you have written for Charlene.  She truly had a warm & giving heart.  She will have a very special place in Heaven, I'm sure.  Rest in Peace, Charlene.  Mary Reid  Brooks


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