Charles William Holmgren

Charles W. Holmgren, age 72 of Upsala, MN passed away December 23, 2007 in Alamo, TX. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 1:00 P.M. at the Community Covenant Church in Upsala with the Rev. Craig Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Community Covenant Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Friday and Saturday from 12:00 PM a" 1:00 P.M. at Community Covenant Church in Upsala. Charles William Holmgren was born November 17, 1935 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, MN to the late Oscar and Edith (Kretlow) Holmgren. He grew up in St. Cloud where he attended and graduated from Tech High School with the Class of 1954. Following high school, Charles began his 43 year career with McDowell Company in St. Cloud as a sheet metal worker. He retired in 1997. Charles was united in marriage to Judy A. Alvord on April 12, 1958 at St. John's Catholic Church in Foley, MN. Following their marriage, Charles & Judy lived in St. Cloud and in 1963 moved to Sauk Rapids Township. In 1993, the couple moved to the Upsala area. Following retirement, Charles and Judy traveled throughout the United States and for the last several years have wintered at the Bibleville Park in Alamo, TX. Charles enjoyed horses, hunting, fishing and camping and was know as a "Jack of All Trades". He was a member of Community Covenant Church in Upsala, MN, Upsala Senior Center, the Bibleville Community in Alamo, TX, Sheet Metal Workers Union #10 and the Horn (N) Horse Club. Charles is survived by his wife, Judy; daughters & sons; Diane Stellmach & husband, Randy, of Sauk Rapids, MN, Jamee Holmgren & wife, Annette, of Kilgore, TX, Edward Holmgren & wife, Lynn, of Foley, MN, Jacob Holmgren & wife, Colleen, of Sauk Rapids, MN, Virginia Koopmeiners & husband, Mark, of Upsala, MN, Lisa Thielman & husband, Kenneth, of Sauk Rapids, MN, Michael Holmgren & wife, Tina, of St. Cloud, MN, Peter Holmgren & wife, Karla, of Sauk Rapids, MN, Jennifer Mrozek & husband, Robert, of Paynesville, MN and Melissa Soltis & husband, Trevor, of Upsala, MN; sisters, Betty Binsfeld of St. Cloud, MN, Genny Christinsen of South Haven, MN and Karen Pelkey & husband, Steve, of St. Charles, MO; 32 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marie Norris; granddaughter Tatum Soltis and grandsons, Jaylon & Jairus Holmgren. Casketbearers are Randy Stellmach, Mark Koopmeiners, Kenneth Thielman, Robert Mrozek, Trevor Soltis, Tim Holmgren, Jeremy Holmgren, Brutger Mrozek, Clinton Holmgren and Billy Koopmeiners. Memorial preferred to Rio Bravo Children's Home in Reynosa, Mexico. Arrangements are with the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN.