Charlotte Ellen Dunsmore, a resident of Ankeny, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2025, after a 15-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, 10am-11am at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church (510 E. 1st St., Ankeny, IA 50021). A funeral Mass will follow at 11am which will be livestreamed at https://www.olih.org/news/current-livestream

Char was born in Sherburn, Minnesota on October 15, 1937. Her family moved to Duluth, Minnesota shortly thereafter. She attended Denfeld High School and graduated in 1955. After graduation and specialized keypunch training, she was employed by Erie Mining Company in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. During this time she met and began dating the love of her life, Tom Dunsmore. Char and Tom married on April 27, 1957. They were married 67 years over which time they had 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.

Charlotte was a person of very high integrity and loyalty. She was selfless and loving, always there to help her family and friends. The only “I” she ever knew was can “I” help?

Char was an amazing mother, homemaker, grandmother and great grandmother. She was the CEO of the household. She managed the cleaning, the cooking, the shopping, the finances - she did everything. It didn’t end inside the home; she assisted Tom in all of the outdoor maintenance of the house including painting the house and planting bushes and flowers. She was even the neighborhood barber, cutting the hair of her kids and their friends. Despite all of this, she never failed to attend all her three sons’ baseball, basketball and football games.

Char was also very creative and highly skilled in many crafts. She loved crocheting Afghans and shaping, firing and painting ceramics for family and friends. She loved to make and hang drapes and curtains for family and friends.

She played in 2 Bridge clubs, collected P. Buckley Moss art, Longaberger baskets and Hummel figurines. She enjoyed playing golf with friends at Jester Park. She worked in registration at DMACC and worshipped at OLIH Catholic Church. Char loved her trips to Destin, Florida and early morning walks on the beach with Tom.

Char is survived by her husband of 67 years, Tom; three sons, Joseph (Liz) of Shorewood, MN, Patrick (Blanca) of Lenexa, KS, and Michael (Karen) of Lenexa, KS; grandchildren, Matthew (Stephanie), Drake (Meghan), Kaitlyn (Erik), Briana (Adam), Jake (Engaged to Olivia), Mason (Engaged to Evita) and Abigail; great grandchildren, Kolbe, Georgia, Codi, Elijah, Silas, Marcella, Ivy, Emilia and Jane. She is also survived by her sisters, Grace (Harry) Nelson, Sandy Teal and Jane (Ron) Wiesmann. She is preceded in death by parents, Charlie and Grace Fisher, her beloved sister, Pat Hannigan, and brother Chuck.

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting memorial contributions in Char’s name be made to: The Food Bank of Iowa, 2220 East 17th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50316. Website: www.foodbankiowa.org

Visitation & Funeral Mass

Feb

7

Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church

510 E. 1st St
Ankeny, Iowa 50021

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM