Memorial

Elmer Charles Thulin died at the Views of Marion Senior Living Center on Friday, January 10, 2020.  A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday January 16, 2020 at 11am at St. Andrew Lutheran Church with visitation 1 hour prior to the service.  Visitation will be held Wednesday evening at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4-7pm.  

Charles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on November 27, 1929, the son of Minnie and Elmer Thulin.  He grew up in Des Moines, Iowa graduating from Des Moines Technical High School.  He worked at the radio station KFJB in Marshalltown, Iowa before entering Iowa State College where he majored in Electrical Engineering.   After graduating from college he spent two years in the Signal Corps, spending time in post-war Korea.  Charles accepted a job at Collins Radio Company after discharge from the service in 1954.  He thoroughly enjoyed his forty-one years at Collins, working on such projects as Weather Radar, Inertial Navigation and Doppler Systems, Radio Altimeter and Collision Avoidance System.  

Charles touched the lives of many people with his volunteer services.  He was a Boy Scout Leader of Troop 108, member of the Board of Directors of Churches United, Secretary of Tri County Lutheran Interparish Ministry, volunteered at Wright School, and because he loved music, sang in the Civic Chorus, Collins male chorus and church choir.  He was active in his church serving as chairman of the organ committee. His dream of learning to sail became a reality when he took lessons and purchased a Flying Junior sailboat, a source of adventure for the whole family.  Other interests included crossword puzzles, woodworking, amateur radio and traveling to many states in the U.S., European countries, and Japan.  

Chuck had a dry sense of humor, and was a loving spouse, father, and grandfather. He was humbly patient and persistent in the accomplishment of his goals and those of his family.  His response to many situations was simply “uffda”!  He will be missed.  

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Janet; children Carl,  Jane Larson (David Valentine) and Paul (Lisa) of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren Jordan, Amanda, and Joshua Larson, Chelsea and Trevor Thulin, Erin Salladay (Jake) and Megan (Andrew Kenny) Van Kirk; sister Lois Page (Jerry) and several nieces and nephews.  

Our deepest appreciation to the staff at the Views of Marion for their excellent care and support. Memorial donations may be directed to St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 4420 Center Point Rd. NE.