Charlene Ann Stanke

Charlene Ann (Kinnen) Stanke
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Charlene Ann Stanke, who went home to be with her Lord and Savior on April 26, 2025 at the age of 88 and 2/3rds.
Born Charlene Ann Kinnen on August 13, 1936 in Flint, Michigan. She lived a life marked by faith, grace, and love for her family. She was a devoted Christian who lived her days guided by Christ and her deep belief in the power of prayer. Her Bible was well-worn and her prayers constant.
She married Bill Stanke on August 21, 1954, and together they built a life centered around faith. Charlene and Bill have been married for 70 years, with their love story starting well before that when Bill proposed to Charlene when she was just 13. Their 75 years together of unwavering devotion is to be admired and celebrated. They attended St Paul Bible Institute in Minnesota, where God gave them the opportunity to adopt their oldest child. After the completion of their schooling, they returned to Flint for Bill's work at General Motors. While raising 4 children, Charlene's faith led her to a leadership role in the Flint Christian Women's Club for many years. After their children were grown, Charlene and Bill's work took them to Shanghai, China and Leon, Mexico for several years where she always found community and fellowship with other followers of Christ. In China, she exposed numerous women to Christ while bringing Bible Study Fellowship to the country for the first time. She also served the Lord through her volunteer work with local orphanages and assisting senior citizens. Charlene and Bill settled back in Flushing, MI and created a full life watching their great grand-children play sports, enjoying family meals with their grandchildren and children, and watching and naming all of the birds and deer in their backyard. Charlene was very proud of her Finnish heritage and lovingly shared traditions and recipes with others.
She is preceded in death by sister Patricia Wolos and son Thomas Stanke, and we find comfort in knowing they are now reunited in heaven. She is survived by devoted husband, Bill Stanke; as well as 3 children, Linda Spaude, Timothy Stanke, and Traci Koch (Joseph Curtis); 5 grandchildren, James (Carley), Samantha, Kimberly (Ashley), Elizabeth, John; and 3 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Carter, and Camden. Her great grandkids will miss her endless treats out of her purse and her grandkids fondly talk about her sugar cookies, chicken salad, and from scratch pasties.
She was a member of Faith Missionary and more recently Mayfair Bible Church for many years. A celebration of Charlene's life will be held at 1:00pm, Thursday, May 1st at Mayfair Bible Church. Family and friends are invited to come and honor a life so beautifully lived. Visitation for friends and family will be held 1 hour prior to service, 12:00-1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Mayfair Bible Church.
"She fought the good fight, she finished the race, she kept the faith." – 2 Timothy 4:7