Charles F. Lettow

1941 - 2024

1941-2024

Passed away December 24, 2024. As a husband, father, grandfather, lawyer, and judge, among other roles, Charles Lettow lived a life of service devoted to his family, community, and country. He made great contributions to all, in partnership with his beloved wife, Sue. He is dearly missed.

He was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa in 1941 to Carl Friedrich and Catherine Lettow. He grew up on his parents' farm south of town with two younger sisters. From an early age, he worked on farm chores and showed cattle and hogs at the Hardin County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. He graduated from Owasa High School in 1958, one of fourteen in his class.

He attended Iowa State University as an Army ROTC cadet. At Iowa State, he met and became engaged to Bonnie Sue Todoroff of St. Louis. Charles graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering. Charles and Sue were married in 1963.

From 1963 to 1965, Charles served on active duty in the U.S. Army with the Third Infantry Division. He was stationed in Würzburg, West Germany.

Charles attended Stanford Law School, where he was Note Editor of the Stanford Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. He graduated in 1968. From 1968 to 1969, he clerked for Judge Benjamin C. Duniway of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From 1969 to 1970, he clerked for Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Beginning in 1970, Charles worked as Counsel to the newly-created Council on Environmental Quality, in the Executive Office of the President. Charles and others at CEQ designed the Environmental Protection Agency, piecing it together from offices scattered among other agencies. While at CEQ, Charles served as the point person for treaty negotiations, including the Law of the Sea Treaty.

In 1973, Charles joined the Washington office of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton and became a partner in 1976. Charles practiced environmental litigation and general commercial litigation. He argued three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, most notably U.S. v. Stauffer Chemical Company in 1983. He argued more than 40 cases in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and handled many cases in federal trial courts.

Charles and Sue were active members of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean, Virginia. Charles served on the church council and on pastor call committees, and participated in mission work.

Charles was also deeply involved in building an educational institution. Charles's and Sue's four children all attended the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. Charles was a member of the board of trustees of the school from 1983 to 1990, and served as chairman from 1985 to 1988. As chairman, he led the creation of the new high school. All seven of Charles and Sue's grandchildren either currently attend or have attended the Potomac School.

Charles took a sabbatical from Cleary, Gottlieb to earn a master's degree in history in 2001 from Brown University, where he studied with Gordon Wood.

In 2003, Charles was appointed to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, where he served with distinction through the end of his term in 2018, and then as an active senior judge until 2024. His notable decisions included a case about the federal government taking property that had been a wildlife refuge, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission v. U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed his decision, but in 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Federal Circuit. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the opinion for a unanimous court and emphasized the trial court's "detailed findings of fact."

In 2016, Iowa State honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award.

Charles was disciplined and regular in his habits, which helped him to accomplish so much. He was kind and gracious to everyone, regardless of a person's job or situation in life. He listened to and understood others' perspectives, even when he disagreed. If the situation called for it, he calmly explained his view, but everyone felt heard. He had the old-fashioned virtues of tact and discretion. He was able to build consensus around important goals. These qualities made him a consummate judge. All litigants and counsel felt that they were heard and understood, and that the decision-maker was impartial. He was unflappable on the bench and courteous to all.

Charles's wife Sue died in 2016, after a long illness in which Charles was her main caregiver. Charles was devoted to his and Sue's four children, Renée Lerner, Carl, John, and Paul, to their spouses, Craig Lerner, Alexandra Lettow, Brett Denevi, and Kristen Silverberg, and to his seven grandchildren, Ely, Anna, Elias, Charles (Charlie), Maria, John (Jack), and Henry. Charles was also close to his sisters, Beth and Nancy, and their families. They all miss his deep care and interest, and his sound advice.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11 a.m., at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charles's memory to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Buckeye, Iowa, at the following address: P.O. Box 8, Alden, IA 50006; or to the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Boulevard, Ames, IA 50010, to benefit the Military Science Scholarship Fund (to provide scholarships to individuals enrolled in ROTC at Iowa State). Online donations can be made at www.foundation.iastate.edu. The Military Science Scholarship Fund can be specified in the Notes/Instructions box.