Obituary of Charlotte M. Emerson

Charlotte M. Emerson Charlotte M. Emerson, age 91, passed away peacefully with her daughter Barbara at her side on July 10, 2015. Preceded in death by her husband, Elmer (Buzz); father, Chase Mix; mother, Ruth Bushnell; and brother, Chase Mix; she is survived by children and adopted children ,Paul (Hanna Zmijewska-Emerson), Evelyn (Bruce Kramer), Barbara Grinbergs (Arvid Grinbergs), Kenneth (Melinda), Greg and Cindy King; 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Charlotte trained as a physical therapist and served in Belgium during World War II caring for wounded GIs. She was able to explore Germany and France immediately after the War. Returning to the United States, she attended medical school for two years, but eventually decided medicine was not her career. In 1949 she married Elmer (Buzz) Emerson, and at the age of 30 had her first child. She remained as a homemaker and volunteer for most of her married life. Charlotte will probably be most remembered for her dedicated volunteer work springing out of her deep Christian commitment and faith. She served in a variety of roles in the First Presbyterian Church of Downers Grove, where she and her husband attended for over 30 years. Outside of church she had her "little old ladies" she visited in nursing homes and various "cases"--people who frequently found it difficult to get along in society and needed some extra encouragement to manage. These individuals would frequently attend holiday dinners or live as temporary boarders in her home. When her husband founded the Downers Grove Illinois FISH emergency service and food pantry, she became an active participant and coordinated transportation, emergency services and was the go-to person for repeat callers. Charlotte and her husband eventually moved back to the Twin Cities to be close to family, where he passed away in 2006. As Charlotte's memory declined from Alzheimer's, she moved into the Clare Bridge memory care facility in Plymouth, MN but still managed to go to church every Sunday. Even when she could barely speak she still could recite the Lord's Prayer. A celebration of life will be held in late August in the Twin Cities area. Please email barb@grinbergs.com for information. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in her name to the Alzheimer's Association .