Charlotte Eileen Dueland

Charlotte Eileen Dueland was born on February 6, 1942, in Perry, Iowa, to Russell Wilcox and Olive (Simpson) Wilcox. She grew up on a farm outside of Adel, Iowa, and graduated from Adel High School in 1960. Following high school, Charlotte continued her education at Drake University where she met the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Dueland. They exchanged vows on February 23, 1963, in Adel and enjoyed a beautiful marriage that lasted 25 years until Dick's passing in 1988.

 

Charlotte worked as a legal secretary for Eller, Brink, and Sextro for many years.  While at the law office, she decided to pursue a longtime goal of completing her undergraduate degree and resumed college classes, earning a Bachelor's of Business Administration from Buena Vista University in 1988.  She spent the last decade of her career as the Financial Secretary for the Denison Community Schools District Office, a job which brought her great joy and satisfaction. Even after her retirement in 2004, Charlotte would share homemade baked goods with her beloved former coworkers.

 

Charlotte took delight in her many hobbies and interests. An avid golfer, she looked back fondly on the time she made a hole-in-one. Charlotte also enjoyed the camaraderie of Bridge Club and fulfilled a lifelong dream by embarking on an Alaskan cruise. Later in life, she found entertainment in playing Bingo, solving Sudoku puzzles, and playing along with Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Most of all, Charlotte was an enthusiastic reader throughout her life.

 

Music played an important role in Charlotte's life. She was a talented performer and acted in several plays and musicals for the Midwestern Players dinner theater. She was an accomplished vocalist who generously shared her beautiful voice with others by singing with the church choir and performing at countless weddings and funerals. Charlotte was also part of a talented trio that included Sue Rosener and Jolene Franken, and they entertained audiences at many events in Denison and the surrounding area.

 

Devoted to her faith and community, Charlotte was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church in Denison for over 50 years. A lifelong member of P.E.O., she founded a scholarship for female graduates of Denison High School, sponsored by the local chapter. She dedicated many years of service to Kiwanis International, committed to its mission of improving the lives of children and families around the world.  Further demonstrating the importance she placed on education, Charlotte served on the steering committee for the Iowa Academic Decathlon and funded a scholarship for graduating Academic Decathlon students in Dick’s memory.

 

Charlotte was blessed with a wonderful network of caring and supportive friends and neighbors, and her many pursuits were all the more meaningful because she pursued them with friends. Above all else, family was paramount to Charlotte. Whether hosting holiday dinners or competing fiercely at board games around the kitchen table, she treasured time with loved ones. As a mother and grandmother, she modeled character and good conduct in all she did.  In subtle but powerful ways, she demonstrated kindness to others, generosity of spirit, a strong work ethic, the value of education, and determination in the face of difficulty when unexpectedly raising a family as a widow.

 

Charlotte passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 81. She leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dick; brother Clarence William "Bill" Wilcox; and two great-nieces.

 

She is survived by her two daughters: Jami Siefken (Bryant) of Des Moines, Iowa; and Janna Raper (Troy) of Leawood, Kansas; one son, David Dueland (fiancee Jill Happel) of Norwalk, Iowa; grandchildren: Joshua Siefken (Emma Markowski); Hannah Siefken; Alex Raper; Natalie Raper; and Ellie Dueland; two sisters: Carolyn Dalton of New Hartford, New York; and Shirley Gibson of Gilbert, Arizona; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and their families.

 

Funeral services for Charlotte will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024, with a one-hour visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Denison, Iowa. Interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Denison, Iowa.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made in Charlotte's honor to the Denison Educational Foundation, 819 North 16th Street, Denison, IA, 51442.

 

Her service will be livestreamed through the Funeral Home's Facebook Page and will be available at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024: https://www.facebook.com/huebnerfuneralhome/