Charlene Spear

Charlene Kay Spear, 84, passed away peacefully on on Friday, August 29, 2025 at the Timely Mission Nursing Home. Services to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Friday, September 12 at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Town Center in Buffalo Center with a memorial visitation from 4:30 to 6 p.m. 

Charlene was born on April 30, 1941 in Buffalo Center to Nick and Edna Thomsen. They moved to Wesley and then eventually settled in Lakota in 1951, where she grew up on a farm with her five siblings, helping with feeder cattle, pigs and sheep, and working in the fields during planting and harvest. She was active in sports and especially enjoyed basketball.

She married Garry Spear on July 27, 1963. They first lived in Ledyard before moving to Lakota in 1975, where they farmed and raised their six children. Charlene owned Char's Town & Country Salon for 26 years and also shared her creativity by organizing and putting on hair shows.

Char played an active role in her community, helping organize the Lakota Centennial, the Quasquicentennial, many Fall Festivals and also cared for the Lakota Museum. She enjoyed gardening, tending her many flowers and plants later in life, canning food, garage sales with Garry and her grandchildren, and watching her children and grandchildren in all sports, especially basketball.

She is survived by her husband, Garry, and children: Tamie (Kel) Koppen of Lakota; Theresa (Rich) Berg of Buffalo Center; Trudi Spear of Buffalo Center; Tina (Keith) DeWitt of Waukee; and Travis (Emily) Spear of Urbandale; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Kade Koppen; Lukas and Kenna Baggenstoss; and Lexi, Paige, Ava, and Cora Berg, with another great-grandchild on the way. She was preceded in death by her son, Timothy, her parents, and siblings.