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Charlotte "Toddy" Zortman
1925 - 2025
BORN
1925
DIED
2025
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Charlotte Zortman Obituary
Charlotte "Toddy" Zortman
August 17, 1925 - October 1, 2025
Charlotte "Toddy" Zortman, 100, of Onawa, Iowa and recently of Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting, passed away Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at Burgess Health Center, Onawa, Iowa.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025, at St. John's Catholic Church, Onawa, Iowa, with co-celebrants, Reverend Father Shinoj Jose and Father Michael J. Erpelding, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Charlotte's obituary details at www.goslarfuneralhome.com. Burial will follow in the Whiting City Cemetery, Whiting, Iowa. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service Saturday, October 11, 2025, at St. John Catholic Church, in Onawa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.
Charlotte Irene was born August 17, 1925, in Turin, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Mabel (Bartholomew) Burke. She grew up in Turin and graduated from Onawa High School in 1942. She spent many years, during high school and after, working for her dad at Burke's Grocery in Turin, Iowa-a job she loved and often talked about.
Charlotte and Warren "Gene" Zortman were united into marriage October 12, 1945, in Onawa. They met at a dance in Castana and enjoyed dancing. Gene passed away January 17, 2018.
Charlotte liked gardening, canning, crossword puzzles, the St. Louis Cardinals, helping Gene make violins, golfing, bowling, watching birds outside her window, and holidays. She especially liked spending time with her grands and great grands-whether cooking, baking cinnamon rolls, playing cards or Scrabble, or just catching up with what they were doing. She never missed sending a card for birthdays. Charlotte also took an active role in fall harvest, pulling grain wagons with tractors. She was very proud of doing this. Charlotte also liked following her kids' activities…sports, concerts, school plays.
Charlotte found great joy in raising her children and took pride in the family she and Gene built. She treasured the many memories that the family made. Most of all, she cherished the time spent with her family, whose love and companionship brought her the greatest happiness throughout her life.
Charlotte was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Onawa where she was a member of St. John's Rosary Society and once served as President.
In July of 2024, Charlotte entered a new home-Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting. Charlotte truly enjoyed her life at Pleasant View where she attended many of the activities each day. Quite by accident, she started a new card club there-the 3:00 (Every day) "Kings on the Corner" group. The ladies at the table loved each other and didn't want to miss out on this special group. Charlotte also "danced with her dolly" at unexpected times during the day and taught many people she met how to truly be a good person who loved life. Charlotte was adored by all who met and knew her. She had a way of making everyone feel special and enjoyed kidding with people of all ages.
In August of this year, Charlotte celebrated her 100th birthday with family. It was a memorable occasion for everyone.
Survivors include her six children, Bill (Carolyn) Zortman of Hartford, South Dakota, Dick "Doc" (Louanne) Zortman of Sioux City, Iowa, Jeannee Fossberg of Grand Island, Nebraska, Kathryn (Terry) Clarkson of Lawton, Iowa, Carole (Randy) Syse of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Karen Zortman of Thornton, Colorado; twenty--two grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; a very special family friend and caregiver, Sue Hatch; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Mabel (Bartholomew) Burke; two infant sons, Peter Andrew Zortman and Thomas Gerard Zortman; two sisters, Eunice (Jack) Wahlke and Marilyn (Doyle) Kratz; one brother, Ronnie (Juanita) Burke; one great-grandson, Armstrong Zortman; and one son-in-law, Brad Fossberg.
Memorials will be designated by family at a later time. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com.
August 17, 1925 - October 1, 2025
Charlotte "Toddy" Zortman, 100, of Onawa, Iowa and recently of Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting, passed away Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at Burgess Health Center, Onawa, Iowa.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025, at St. John's Catholic Church, Onawa, Iowa, with co-celebrants, Reverend Father Shinoj Jose and Father Michael J. Erpelding, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Charlotte's obituary details at www.goslarfuneralhome.com. Burial will follow in the Whiting City Cemetery, Whiting, Iowa. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service Saturday, October 11, 2025, at St. John Catholic Church, in Onawa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.
Charlotte Irene was born August 17, 1925, in Turin, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Mabel (Bartholomew) Burke. She grew up in Turin and graduated from Onawa High School in 1942. She spent many years, during high school and after, working for her dad at Burke's Grocery in Turin, Iowa-a job she loved and often talked about.
Charlotte and Warren "Gene" Zortman were united into marriage October 12, 1945, in Onawa. They met at a dance in Castana and enjoyed dancing. Gene passed away January 17, 2018.
Charlotte liked gardening, canning, crossword puzzles, the St. Louis Cardinals, helping Gene make violins, golfing, bowling, watching birds outside her window, and holidays. She especially liked spending time with her grands and great grands-whether cooking, baking cinnamon rolls, playing cards or Scrabble, or just catching up with what they were doing. She never missed sending a card for birthdays. Charlotte also took an active role in fall harvest, pulling grain wagons with tractors. She was very proud of doing this. Charlotte also liked following her kids' activities…sports, concerts, school plays.
Charlotte found great joy in raising her children and took pride in the family she and Gene built. She treasured the many memories that the family made. Most of all, she cherished the time spent with her family, whose love and companionship brought her the greatest happiness throughout her life.
Charlotte was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Onawa where she was a member of St. John's Rosary Society and once served as President.
In July of 2024, Charlotte entered a new home-Pleasant View Care Center, Whiting. Charlotte truly enjoyed her life at Pleasant View where she attended many of the activities each day. Quite by accident, she started a new card club there-the 3:00 (Every day) "Kings on the Corner" group. The ladies at the table loved each other and didn't want to miss out on this special group. Charlotte also "danced with her dolly" at unexpected times during the day and taught many people she met how to truly be a good person who loved life. Charlotte was adored by all who met and knew her. She had a way of making everyone feel special and enjoyed kidding with people of all ages.
In August of this year, Charlotte celebrated her 100th birthday with family. It was a memorable occasion for everyone.
Survivors include her six children, Bill (Carolyn) Zortman of Hartford, South Dakota, Dick "Doc" (Louanne) Zortman of Sioux City, Iowa, Jeannee Fossberg of Grand Island, Nebraska, Kathryn (Terry) Clarkson of Lawton, Iowa, Carole (Randy) Syse of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Karen Zortman of Thornton, Colorado; twenty--two grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; a very special family friend and caregiver, Sue Hatch; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Mabel (Bartholomew) Burke; two infant sons, Peter Andrew Zortman and Thomas Gerard Zortman; two sisters, Eunice (Jack) Wahlke and Marilyn (Doyle) Kratz; one brother, Ronnie (Juanita) Burke; one great-grandson, Armstrong Zortman; and one son-in-law, Brad Fossberg.
Memorials will be designated by family at a later time. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Grand Island Independent on Oct. 7, 2025.
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