Alexis Martin
This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Charlie Lofgren, 84, born on December 15, 1929 and passed away on May 21, 2014. We will remember him forever.
Memorial Service in Moose Lake to July 6, Sunday, 3:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church with burial at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, and reception (for story telling/memory sharing; DVD; light dinner) at the Moose Lake Historical Society (5-8)
Tributes
Leave a tributeAlexis Martin
Love, Peggy
I imagine you and your good friend Judy Martin are doing some catching up right about now. I miss you both.
T-109 and the subsequent 50-year relationship that began there seemed as recent as that very day. I think of you; I miss you; I hold you in my heart. Siempre, mi amor.
Peggy
"We went into this little office that was absolutely crammed with stuff. There were medical charts piled high on the desk in about three or four stacks. The bookshelves were jammed with books, magazines, what looked like small boxes of medical supplies, the odd exam glove here and there, and some vases of wilted flowers set in the empty spaces. The floor was also littered with paper. In short, the office was a shit house. Dr. Slivowitz, I just remembered his name, motioned for us to sit.”
“I’m not surprised,” Tony said. “Every doctor’s office I’ve ever been in was inhabited by slobs. Sorry for the interruption.”
“Sure! Mike picked some books up off his chair and added them to the mess on the floor. Mine was not so simple. I had to deal with a green molded half of a cheese sandwich and a plastic coffee cup parked on my chair, along with an old issue of the New York Times. I set them on the floor as best I could. I was half expecting a mouse to emerge from somewhere and greedily devour the sandwich.”
Anne and Gene Paige
I will never forget the wonderful semi annual family holiday vacation trips to Florida.
After being on the road for 3 days with 6 people in a 1980 Malibu, before the days of mini vans, in the late evening we pulled up to Uncle Charles house on the end of the cul de sac. The vacation started with a dramatic entrance through Miami foliage into the front door, over the big Mexican tiles, by the brick fireplace loaded with artifacts from all over the world and out into the warm sultry south Florida air to see the swimming pool.
The Holidays started with Charles 1st demonstration of turning on his Christmas tree lights with a squeaker. That was followed with a hint of his Christmas gift for me. As a fore shadow of the big belt buckle wrapped for me under the tree, "Do you know what Coors is" he asked when I was in 6th grade. With in 10 minutes we were in the incredible pool and hot tub.
The amazing hospitality throughout the week included a different ethnic dinner everyday. From Cuban, to Mexican, and of course a succulent Christmas Turkey I had the best eating experience of my life!
This was highlighted with a lobster tail lunch for just Charles, my brother John and I as a reward for a bit of yardwork.
The week was filled with fun in the Sun then resting with MTV on the big screen, examining the artifacts, and reading Mad magazines. What a dream vacation it was!
By the end of the week we new Charles quite well. I learned who needs fancy shorts when all you need is boxers, you better read the newspaper before it is soaked after Charles takes it out to the hot tub after getting home from work, when you have good storage space you only need room for a bed and about a 3 foot walkway, and who needs sleep when you have treasures to tinker with in the middle of the night.
I can't say enough about how fortunate I am to have had such a fun, thoughtful, generous, Uncle! He truly made it special to be a Lofgren.
Charles, You are Loved and forever missed!
Jim Lofgren
I didn't think you'd leave so soon. You're forever in my heart.
(his boss!) introduced us. My children and I treasured his friendship
and considered him a member of the family. I met many of his Pfizer
associates at wonderful dinners Charlie would either host at home or
at a fine Miami restaurant --oh, how he loved to talk about food and
dining! I am so deeply saddened at losing him and hope if there is
a tribute in Miami that his friends will notify me so I may attend.
I feel so awful that I didn't know he was ill. We had communicated only
a short time ago. If there is anything broken in heaven, I know he'll
fix it -- he could repair anything! God speed til we meet again, dear
Charlie.
Gayle Duncan
I will never have a negative thought or memory of Uncle Charles. He was a father figure to me and will always be so. I deeply mourn his death. There was a big "ripple in the force" when he died.
A big void exists in our lives with Charles's passing. But a larger mountain of wonderful memories will always be cherished by those that knew and loved Charles E Lofgren.
Because of his rich and remarkable life; in his passing away, Charles left this world a better place. Learning from Charles, I hope we all are more compassionate, understanding, empathic and I also hope we all learned about being gracious, like Charles, to improve the human condition.
May you rest in peace Uncle Charles. I grieve your passing. But my heart is filled with extreme joy, knowing all the good you brought to so many people.
In loving memory,
Philip L Hanson (nephew)
Peggy (niece)
On behalf of the family
It is the little things he did for people that are his legacy and I’m sure that he never stopped giving….to the very end.
To paraphrase the chant of gladiators in the Coliseum over two thousand years ago ….. Nos quisnam etiam alive tutus vos. “We who are still alive salute you!”
Anne and Gene Paige
I remember our conversations at Family events.
Uncle Lloyd and I shared US Navy experiences. We were both Radioman. You often asked me about my Navy Job.
Until We Meet Again.
God Bless
A special life has passed from our sight...but never from our hearts.
With our deepest sympathy in the loss of one so dearly loved.
He was so loved in life and will be treasured in memory.
All our Love
Johanna von Kyrein
Monica Patterson
Robert Patterson
Peace to his soul.
Charles E. Lofgren, age 84, died May 21, 2014 at his home in Miami following a brief illness. He was born on December 15, 1929 in Moose Lake, MN, the third child of Nannie (Johnson) and Elmer Lofgren. During the first years of his life his family lived on the farm homesteaded by his grandparents, Erik and Sofia Lofgren on Pickerel (Echo) Lake, the current site of Moose Lake State Park. He remembered how his energetic curiosity once annoyed a cow with a powerful kick - an adventure that landed him in bed for six weeks with a broken leg. This didn’t stop his passion for animal husbandry, however, which shaped his education and career. Following graduation from Moose Lake High School in 1947, and military service, he obtained both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agriculture from the University of Minnesota. He started his career as an “Ag School” teacher in Morris, Minnesota. He was then hired by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Terre Haute, Indiana. While living there, he got his pilot’s license, bought a plane and would fly home to Minnesota for vacations.
During the span of his 32 year career with Pfizer, he lived in Beirut, Rome, Tokyo, Madrid, Miami and New York, ultimately becoming Vice President in Marketing, Animal Pharmaceutical Division for South America. In 1993, he started the Charles E. Lofgren Scholarship at his alma mater available to students enrolled in the UM’s College of Food and Agricultural Science & Natural Resources (CFANS) who are pursuing a career in one of those fields. He got to know these students with the devotion and interest of a favorite uncle, delighted to hear about their lives long after they graduated. Charlie never officially retired from his active work life. As recently as this year, he was consulting, lending his experience and investing in small businesses primarily in fields of agriculture, veterinary services and natural resources.
A philanthropist through and through, Charlie was also a strong supporter of the United Way in Miami, particularly following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew. But what most people will remember about Charlie was his colorful personality. He had a knack for being able to talk to anyone about anything, cultivating lifelong friends throughout the world. He was bright, energetic, fun and generous. Mention his name and listen as people chuckle and tell a “Charlie story.” The world will seem quieter, tidier and sadly more predictable without Charlie and his often present baseball cap.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Lloyd Lofgren, his sister, Helen Hanson and brother-in-law Bob Hanson, and his nephew John Lofgren. He is survived by his sister Audrey Brose, her husband Harlan, of East Hartland, CT, sister-in-law Delores Lofgren (Stewartville, MN), his aunt Doris Johnson (Bloomington, MN), his nieces, nephews, cousins. Other survivors are his scholarship fund “adoptees,” and numerous friends/colleagues. The family would like to thank two devoted friends in particular, John and Carol Honeycutt of Miami, for all of their help during this difficult time.
Charlie had his plane tickets purchased for his summer trip to Minnesota. He was excited about the 100th Reunion of Moose Lake High School and, of course, the 4th of July Parade. So it is fitting that a memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 6th, at 3:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church in Moose Lake, MN. Christian burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Barnum, MN. Charlie never talked much about dying, but in the event that this world traveler did, he wanted to be buried by his parents back home in Moose Lake.
A celebration of Charlie's life is also being planned in Miami by his friends, details pending.
Memorials are preferred to: The Charles E. Lofgren Undergraduate Honor Award (University of Minnesota Foundation, CM-3854, PO Box 70870, St. Paul, MN 55170) or United Way of Miami-Dade (3250 S.W. 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129, Attention: Carlos Molina).
He visited our warehouse almost every week. Mr. Lofgren never came with empty hands, from pineapples to bottles of wine to his last batch of baked beans and hot dogs. That was Mr. Lofgren, a caring friend who always had a complement.
One time one of my customer was visiting Miami from a small town up north and when he mentioned the town where he was from Mr. Lofgren commented he had visited the town in the early 60's and that he had an African American friend there who later became a doctor. My customer is African American and was very impressed that Mr. Lofgren was friends with this Doctor because of the racism and segregation they had suffered in those years, to this I replied; yes this is our beloved friend Mr. Lofgren. Last year this same gentleman came to buy shirts in our warehouse while vacationing in Miami and of course he asked about Mr. Lofgren and send him his regards.
Descanse en paz querido amigo Siempre te recordare con Mucho Cariño.
Leave a Tribute
Alexis Martin
Love, Peggy
I imagine you and your good friend Judy Martin are doing some catching up right about now. I miss you both.
Please be patient.
Charlie's Story
A donor's story of how scholarships make a difference
By Charles Lofgren
Editor’s note: Charles Lofgren (’51–B.S.; ’57–M.S., agriculture), a longtime supporter of the college, spent his career with Pfizer, in a variety of countries and roles. Lofgren was the keynote speaker at last fall’s “Thanksgiving for Scholarships” event, where students and scholarship donors get a chance to meet in person. This is an edited transcript of his remarks.
I was raised on a dairy farm near Moose Lake, Minnesota. As a boy, you could find me with my ear glued to the radio listening to my favorite football team, the Golden Gophers, and I had dreams of attending the U of M, specifically the college of agriculture.
My dream did come true, and I still remember that day in September when I boarded a Greyhound bus for what we called “the Cities.” At the bus depot in downtown Minneapolis, I ran into a fellow named Larry. He also came from a dairy farm in northeastern Minnesota and we became good friends. Larry was an honor student, and he told me that his older brother and sister were enrolled in a community college near their home.
He thought that was where he was going too, except that he got a scholarship that paid his tuition at the university.
He was majoring in agronomy and wanted to get into agribusiness. I had similar aspirations and one day during fall quarter, to my surprise and delight, I got a letter from the dean saying that I had been granted a scholarship that was going to pay pretty much all of my tuition for that year.
We went home for the summer and in August, I got a letter from Larry saying his scholarship was not renewed and his applications for other scholarships were to no avail.
He said, “I won’t be back in the fall, but maybe I’ll be back for winter or spring quarter.” Nope, that didn’t happen. And I thought, what a pity, what a shame, what a waste, here this young brilliant student who is highly motivated and well focused—I was thinking of all of the contributions he could have made. At that moment, I said, “someday, when I have the opportunity, I am going to contribute to a scholarship fund or maybe even have a scholarship program of my own.” It took me 40 years, but in 1993, I established the Charles Lofgren Scholarship and in these 15 years, I am very pleased to say, over two dozen students have benefited from my scholarships.
Every time I have a chance, I sit down with my students, such as the five at the dinner table tonight, and discuss what they are doing and what their aspirations are. I get emails, phone calls, letters from former students, asking me for advice, and thankfully, giving me some advice too. That’s good.
A few years ago, I was at a reunion in New York and I told a friend who graduated from Texas A&M about my scholarship fund. He said, “that really is a big annual expense on your part.” I said, “no, that’s not an expense. It’s an investment, an investment in the lives and the futures of deserving students.”
Two weeks later I got a call from him. He said when he got home, he had written a check to the Aggie Assurance program, a program at Texas A&M for deserving students. He’s still contributing.
So it’s with great satisfaction that I have been granting these scholarships, and now I would like to address all of those here who sponsor scholarships or represent organizations that grant scholarships. We’re in a pretty tough economy right now, but let’s keep up with our scholarships and even, if possible, increase it, because every one of the students here is worth every penny.
I would urge you—but don’t wait 40 years like me—to get involved in the scholarships, because it will make you proud. You are contributing to the well-being and the future of deserving students.
Hear it from Charlie himself...
As the Chief Development Officer for the past 10 years at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science at the University of Minnesota, I’ve had the privilege and fun of knowing Charlie Lofgren. He started his Lofgren Scholarship in 1993, well before I arrived in 2004, but we were able to spend the next 10 years figuring out how to perfect the Charlie Lofgren scholarship program. Part of that included getting Charlie email addresses of all new recipients. Every spring, Charlie would start getting his thank you letters from the new students. We’d provide him with their email addresses and he’d write them back with words of encouragement and counsel. It seemed like each year, Charlie would say to me, “Cynthia, looks like I have one of the best crops of students yet.” If you wonder what motivated Charlie to start a scholarship program and keep in touch with not only the students but their families, I'd have to say you need to hear it from Charlie himself. Please go this link: http://www.cfans.umn.edu/CFANSGiving/ThanksgivingforScholarships/2008/index.htm
This is the video of the 2008 annual scholarship dinner when Charlie was the featured speaker. Click on the video. When it starts playing move the time bar to 33:02. This is when our Associate Dean Jay Bell introduces Charlie, followed by Charlie’s remarks. He perfectly and beautifully expresses what’s in his heart.
The 2014-15 Lofgren Scholarship recipients will soon be selected. Sadly, this will be the first “crop” that will not meet their benefactor, Charlie Lofgren. Still, Charlie’s legacy will live on through this scholarship.
Charlie, I’ll miss our lunches at Jax Café and visits with Dean Al Levine. I’ll miss your emails telling me what exotic place you’re visiting that week. I’ll miss your kindness and friendship. For now, I’ll look for you in the students you helped and nurtured and the students in generations to come. Cynthia Cashman
How Charlie Lofgren Lives United
Charles ("Charlie") Lofgren, an exemplary, hands-on philanthropist, has been a supporter of United Way for nearly 60 years. Read More here....