Charlotte Marie Dake

On September 9, 2010 Charlotte Dake joined her loved ones who had passed before her. Grace (Shortess) Baum and Earl Baum welcomed their daughter Charlotte Marie Baum into their loving home in Garrison, Iowa on June 15, 1917. It was there that Charlotte grew up and later graduated from Garrison High School. She attended her alumna banquet each June, including June 2010, where she represented the class of 1935.
Education was important to Charlotte. She attended Iowa State College in Ames, graduating with teaching certification from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught in Arlington and later returned to college earning a BA in elementary education from Upper Iowa University in 1967. It was then that Charlotte began her second teaching career with the Starmont School System.
In 1939 Charlotte married Myron Dake of Vinton Iowa; they celebrated 63 years of marriage before Myron's death in 2002. From this union came four sons: Dennis (Dorothy) of Ames, Iowa, Maurice (Jane) of Lantana, Florida, Ronald (Shannon) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Robert (Ann) of Safety Harbor, Florida. Charlotte is also survived by nine grandsons and six granddaughters, 14 great grandsons and five great granddaughters.
Between her two teaching careers, Charlotte and Myron owned and operated Dake's IGA grocery in Lamont, Iowa where the couple lived since 1950. Before the move to Lamont, they lived in Cedar Rapids, Oelwein, Garrison, Belle Plaine, and Eldora, Iowa. In 2006 Charlotte chose to move to Story City, Iowa so she could be near family.
Charlotte was lifelong member of the United Methodist church, joining Grace United Methodist Church in Lamont in 1950. There she was active with the Eunice Circle and the prayer chain. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. In Story City Charlotte was a member of the Bell Choir, and loved nothing better than playing a game of Kings in the Corner. Over the years she crocheted afghans for every family member. She cherished the years that she and Myron went camping with friends and she always enjoyed yearly Baum family reunions at Backbone State Park.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her sisters Marian and Earlene and her husband Myron. Visitation at Fawcetts Funeral home in Lamont will be Sunday September 12 from 2:00 - 4:00. The funeral will be held at Grace United Methodist Church at 11:00 am September 13, with a lunch to follow in the church hall. Rev. Scott Meador will officiate. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton, Iowa. Music will be provided by organist Karen Kremer and vocalists: Fran Bowden, Tom Strauss, and Donna Moeller. Casketbearers will be grandchildren: Dwight Dake, Melonie Spear, Gina Kaufmann,James Kaufmann, Paul Kaufmann, John Kaufmann, Tim Dake, Wendi Codacovi, Troy Dake, Erik Dake, Joey Schultz, Andy Schultz, Jennifer Shah, Kimberly Frankie, and Courtney Jadidian. To leave a message for the family go to www.fawcettsfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Charlotte's memorial service begins at 10:00 am September 14, Bethany Life Chapel in Story City. Memorials can be made to Grace United Methodist Church of Lamont or Bethany Life Communities of Story City.