Obituary of Charles Sever Kolsrud
Charles “Chuck” Sever Kolsrud was born in Waukon, Iowa, on October 23, 1935. His parents were Harris and Lucille (Greiser) Kolsrud. He spent most of his youth in the Quad City area in Iowa, attending several elementary schools in that region and graduating from high school in DeWitt, Iowa, in 1954. Chuck continued his education for a year at Los Angeles City College in California, and then went on to pursue and attain a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics with minors in Physical Education and History at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Chuck married Danelda “Dani” Yohe on December 24, 1958, at the historic Little Brown Church near Nashua, Iowa. In 1963, he was awarded a National Science Foundation Scholarship to Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, resulting in his earning a Master’s Degree in Mathematics.
Chuck taught math and coached wrestling, track and football for twenty years at high schools in Janesville, Iowa, and Ackley, Iowa. He also taught math for thirteen years at Eastern Iowa Community College in Clinton, Iowa. His students were all-important to him and in his estimation the day was never long enough to give them the personal, one-on-one attention he felt they needed and deserved.
One of his life passions was coaching wrestling in the state of Iowa. He never had a losing season in fourteen years of coaching the sport. He created and hosted the largest freestyle wrestling tournament in the state of Iowa for many years. Olympic, World and National wrestling champions were among his friends.
His participation in football, wrestling, and pole vaulting in high school led to a love of sports which he enjoyed throughout his life as a coach, participant, and fan. After Chuck retired, he and his wife moved to Arizona. Lifelong membership in the Lutheran Church presented him with many benevolent opportunities, including service as a volunteer for several years with the Arizonans for Children organization in Phoenix, Arizona.
Chuck struggled with frontal lobe dementia during the last few years of his life. He passed away peacefully on December 6, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife Danelda (Yohe) Kolsrud of Tucson, Arizona; daughter Kelli Kolsrud of New Berlin, Wisconsin; son Kyle (Mary) Kolsrud of Tucson, Arizona; grandson Erik (Meghan) Kolsrud of Tucson, Arizona; and granddaughter Catherine Kolsrud, also of Tucson, Arizona. He is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents and a brother, Donald Kolsrud.
A memorial service for Chuck will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church (8625 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85749) at 1:00 PM. A coffee reception will follow the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Tucson Youth On Their Own are appreciated.
All of us in his family, as well as those who knew him, were aware of his work ethic, empathy, and genuine desire to help people, all of which will be missed but are his legacy.
Rest In Peace dear husband, father, grandfather and friend.
