March 29, 2024

Business Active

business the management

CHARLES SOLEM Obituary (2021) – Washington, DC

5 min read
SOLEM Charles Solem “Chuck” On Thursday, March 4, 2021, Charles Henry Solem handed away at the age of 95. Charles was born on August 20,1925 to Thomas and Edna (Findahl) Solem. Although born in Minneapolis, MN, Charles grew up in Osage, IA, in which his father was the pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Charles was very energetic in the local community, participating in many athletics as nicely as the Boy Scouts, in which he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Immediately after graduating large university in 1944 he joined the Navy and served as a Communications (Indicators) Officer on the USS Bergen, a troop transport deployed in the South Pacific for the duration of Environment War II. Immediately after the war Charles attended St. Olaf Higher education, the place he wrote a tale about his practical experience in the Navy throughout Storm Louise – which he entitled “Storm Terror” it gained a nationwide levels of competition and was published in the Atlantic Magazine. Following graduating school Charles arrived to Washington, DC and worked for National Airlines even though attending both Georgetown and George Washington Law Educational facilities. Since of a intense rivalry between the universities, neither recognized credits from the other. As a consequence, Charles did not obtain a regulation diploma. He did, nevertheless, go on to educate a course at Georgetown, and his law scientific studies served him very well in his professional lifestyle. Charles started Worldwide Setting up Products and services (IBS) in 1954 when the Group of American States (OAS) questioned him to offer guard products and services for their setting up. This small business connection still exists, virtually 67 decades later on. Over time the OAS asked for IBS supply janitorial and other companies. A quick time afterwards the Pan American Well being Firm (PAHO) asked IBS to present providers to them. Because IBS only served worldwide corporations these kinds of as the OAS, PAHO and embassies, Charles started off P&R Enterprises in 1969 in response to professional building house owners in the spot inquiring him to provide janitorial providers to their buildings. As a result of IBS and P&R, Charles furnished alternatives for hundreds of Latin American immigrants to obtain significant perform and obtain a greater lifetime. He affectionately turned acknowledged as “Senor” to his employees, as he taken care of absolutely everyone with excellent regard, no make any difference what occupation description they had. His charisma and generosity touched not only his personnel but several some others (suppliers, sellers, accounting and legislation companies, and so forth.) with whom IBS and P&R experienced a enterprise relationship. Charles started attending Luther Place Memorial Church in the 1950s and rapidly bought associated in a variety of its pursuits, from singing in the choir, to participating in the Young Grownup Fellowship-wherever he would meet Marcia Johnson, a really flight attendant he would afterwards marry-to using on management roles on the Church Council. In the 1960s, as the Luther Put community changed, he requested himself: “Why are we right here?” That question about Luther Place’s motive for staying at Thomas Circle spiked his curiosity and affected who he would be as a chief. As a “PK” (“Preacher’s Kid”) he recognized additional than most the worries pastors face as they attempt to guide their congregations in methods that are devoted to the Gospel. His commitment to supporting pastors in translating a Biblical mandate, these as “welcoming the stranger,” into residing, respiratory ministries was unshakeable. He accompanied pastors to meetings with leaders in the interfaith and business communities, as nicely as in government, setting up and developing strong associations. These interactions ended up vital in supporting the church’s mission of opening its doorways – to homeless folks needing shelter, to Central American refugees seeking asylum, to companies performing on social justice difficulties that required meeting and get the job done room. Threats go hand-in-hand with Biblical hospitality, but you could depend on Charles’ leadership qualities, self-self-assurance and humor to interesting the temperature in the area when conversations acquired heated as to how greatest to reside out that mandate. He strategized with the pastor and other church and neighborhood leaders on how very best to build a new N Road Village facility that could superior meet up with the increasing demands for cost-effective housing, clinical treatment, counseling, foods and other vital services for homeless and previously homeless females. Charles beloved Luther Spot and so loved sharing tales about folks and activities from the church’s history. There was knowledge in these tales, and sharing them was a reward from a faithful servant. Charles was also generous philanthropically, equally individually and by way of his organizations. He supported a lot of charities and educational institutions, like funding 3 scholarships at St. Olaf, supporting the making of the Cedar River Neighborhood Middle in Osage, currently being a long-time monetary supporter of N Street Village, and funding new computers for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. He received many awards, amid them the Founders Award from N Street Village, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Osage Significant School and the Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Olaf School. Charles was married to Marcia (Johnson) for 68 a long time. They had a few youngsters, Thomas, Christian and Suzanne. Family was really essential to him and he was delighted that his elder son Thomas came to get the job done for him. Most likely the most hard time in his daily life was when his daughter, Suzanne, handed away in 2012 right after a extensive battle with most cancers. But it generally introduced him pleasure to be all-around his grandchildren, no matter if it was watching Andrew or Julia participating in hockey, Emma softball, or remaining up late to hear to Natalie and Annika when they frequented. He also stored in near contact with his a few sisters, Joanne, Andrea, and Solveig (who handed away on February 14, 2021) who he adored but also cherished to torment. But a lot more than anything Charles treasured interactions and spending time with good friends, whether or not it was joining choir customers at the Dupont Plaza Lodge soon after Thursday night rehearsals inviting the full class of LVC volunteers to the dwelling for a picnic for the duration of their orientation 7 days Monday evening bridge games with Chuck Whitten and Charlie Murray extensive lunches with the N Avenue Village workers inviting congregational associates to soccer parties at his house right after church, or Canasta games with the Febres family members on Saturday evenings. Charles was a great storyteller but also a good listener. His large smile, exuberant laughter, and glowing coronary heart will be Drastically missed by the pretty much tens of thousands of men and women and companies he is touched about the years!!! May possibly his memory be a supply of blessing and inspiration to all who realized him!!! A memorial company will be held at a afterwards day. Donations in Charles’ memory may perhaps be designed to Luther Area Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://lutherplace.org/ or N Road Village, 1333 N Road, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://www.nstreetvillage.org/.A”>www.nstreetvillage.org/.A memorial company will be held at a later on day. Donations in Charles’ memory may possibly be built to Luther Area Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://lutherplace.org/ or N Road Village, 1333 N Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://www.nstreetvillage.org/.

Published in The Washington Put up on Mar. 14, 2021.

You may have missed