Charlotte was born on August 11, 1924, in Winneshiek County to Clarence A. and Amy Rosalia Betts Clink. Charlotte attended rural schools in Winneshiek County and graduated from Cresco High School in 1942. Charlotte married the love of her life, Ernest Merton Corson of Hesper, IA, on November 7, 1946 in Great Falls, Montana.
Charlotte spent her childhood in Northeast Iowa riding her beloved horses Bill, Dan and Daisy. She also enjoyed roller skating and playing with cousins in Kendallville. Charlotte’s baking skills learned from her mother are well-known throughout Winneshiek County especially her legendary glazed donuts. Charlotte and Ernest were married during WWII and enjoyed their time living in Virginia, Nebraska, Missouri and England. After Ernest retired from the Air Force the family moved back to NE Iowa where they raised their six children on the family farm. They spent their golden years sharing their love and heritage with their precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Charlotte was a life-time member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church, founding member and President of the Winneshiek County Handicap Society as well as a Girl Scout and 4-H Leader. Her activism for the disabled led to elevators and better accessibility for the handicapped in the area. Though in life polio took her legs, now she is free to run with the wind and to ride her beloved horses once again.
Charlotte Cleone Corson passed away on December 27, 2012 at the age of 88.
Charlotte is survived by one brother, Sterling (Jhan) Clink of Story City, IA, and six children: Dennis (Margaret) Corson of Cedar Falls, IA.; Lynda Metzler of Richland, MO.; Doug Corson of Hesper, IA.; Dalton Corson of Ames, IA.; Forrest (Barbara) Corson of Des Moines, IA.; and Charlene Selbee of Rio Rancho, NM. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Carolyn (Vance), Marisa (Matt), Jeffrey (Louisa), Christopher (Nadja) , Timothy (Jen), Anthony, Vickie (Jarrod), Michael (Deidre), Aeriel (Steven), Elizabeth (Manuel), Lena (Teague), Rikki and Cristine (Robert) as well as her precious great-grandchildren: Elena, Alyssa, Sophie, Dylan, Hayden, Madison, Tyler, Jayson, Bradyn, Connor, Jordan, Max, Jordin, Christian, Damien, Toby, Trevor, and Aidan. Charlotte is survived by many nieces and nephews and cousins as well as numerous friends nurtured during her lifetime. Charlotte was preceded in death by her mother and father and her older sister Eleanor Kacher, younger brother Clarence A. Clink Jr. and son-in-law, David Metzler.
Pallbearers include Christopher Metzler, Anthony Metzler, Rikki Selbee, Jeffrey Corson, Michael Corson, and Doug Corson.
Visitation with the family is from 2-4pm at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel, MN on Sunday, December 30th. The family will be celebrating Charlotte’s life on Monday, December 31, at 11am at the Hesper Lutheran Church, Hesper, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the March of Dimes, Hesper Lutheran Church or Aase Haugen Home in Charlotte’s name. |
