Chuck Willard Coldren

     Charles was born on October 25th, 1933 on a farm northwest of Laurens.  He was the son of George and Anna Laura (Ferguson) Coldren.  He attended Booth Township County school for seven years (including kindergarten) and then to Laurens Public School.  Graduating in 1952.  He attended one year at Emmetsburg Junior College, playing basketball and baseball.  

     Charles married JoAnn Allen on November 24th, 1954 at the Sacred Heart Rectory in Ayrshire.  They made their home in Laurens.  Charles sold Plymouth and Dodge cars for Boyd’s Farm Store.  Then he worked at Don’s Phillips 66 Oil Station.  Later he sold farm equipment for Manufacture Associate in Iowa and Minnesota.  In 1957, they moved to the home farm and farmed until 1985.  Later in 1995, Coldren Farm became a Century Farm.  They built a new home in Laurens in 1975 and moved into it in 1976.  They lived in Laurens until 1999, then moving to Spencer.  Charles was a farmer all of his life.  They raised purebred Hampshire and Duroc hogs and purebred Chevist sheep.  He was a 4-H leader for over ten years for Booth Township and CYO leader for five years.  

     Charles and JoAnn enjoyed wintering in Mission, TX for twenty-two years.  They would stop and visit their Texas children and grandchildren on their return trip to Iowa.  They also enjoyed camping together.  Charles enjoyed woodworking and whittling.  He spent a lot of time over the years hunting.

     Charles was preceded in death by his parents, George and Anna Laura Coldren; his sister, Gloria; his brother, Clayton at birth and a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Coldren. 

     He is survived by his wife, JoAnn of Spencer, IA; his children: Craig Coldren of Royce City, TX; Scott (Karla) Coldren of Spencer, IA; Peggy (Bill) Burke of Forney, TX and Marcy (Derek) Gonzales of Midlothian, TX; 11 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer.