LEE — Charles O. Thorsen, of Lee, Illinois, passed away on April 6, 2025 at the age of 90. 

Charles was born in Rochelle, Illinois, on July 19, 1934 to Orlando and Gladys (Peterson) Thorsen. He was raised on his family farm in rural Lee with his sister, Kathleen. It was here where his parents instilled in him so many of the traits he would carry on throughout his life, and where Charles learned so many of the skills he would put to use during his ninety years. 

Charles went to grade school at the Peterson School, a one-room school house on the corner of his family's farm, where his teacher was Miss Alice Tysdale. He was very proud that his great-grandfather had donated the land for the school, and numerous relatives, including his mother and grandparents attended school there. He later owned the school building after it had been converted to a home. 

Charles attended Steward High School, where he enjoyed History class and participated in the Future Farmers of America. Standing at 6' 4", he played center for the basketball team and was known for his hook shot. He graduated in 1952. 

Charles then volunteered with some friends from Steward to serve in the Army. He went to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, for Basic Training, and then to Beale Air Force Base in California. Charles was a talented marksman, having been shooting a rifle since he was a ten year old boy on the farm. That experience was probably a factor in him being named the third-best shooter in his company during Basic Training. He then served at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois before returning again to Beale Air Force Base near Marysville & Yuba City, where he served with SCARWAF (Special Category Army with Air Force) as Company B's Battalion Clerk. Charles had many fond memories from his time in the service, serving from 1954 to 1956. 

After the service, he returned to the farm and farmed full-time from 1957 until retiring at the age of 81. He was a passionate and innovative farmer and fed 500-800 cattle per year, finishing them on grain and silage for the market. In addition to the feedlot cattle, he also had a cow-calf herd for many years. He grew corn, soybeans, wheat, & hay, and he was always one of the first around to finish planting each year. He faithfully tracked the markets, and was always aware of any farmland sales in the area. 

His sister introduced him to Joyce E. Heffner, of Rockford, and they were married at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford on February 28,1959, enjoying 66 years of laughter and activity. 

To this union were born three children, Christine, Eileen, and Michael, who are grateful for their lives growing up with Charles & Joyce on the family farm. 

Charles was a very intelligent, kind-hearted, thoughtful man who was always curious about current events and showing genuine interest in his family's activities and interests. 

He was a great teacher, and all of his family members can think fondly of learning something from him. 

He loved to read and keep up with the news, subscribing to the Daily Chronicle and the Rockford Register Star, among others, reading them nearly every day of his adult life. 

Charles was 100% Norwegian and very proud of his family heritage. His great-grandfather was a founder of Calvary Lutheran Church, and he was a fourth generation cattle and grain farmer on the farm where his family has resided for 143 years. He lived in his home on Woodlawn Road for his entire 90 years, excepting his military service. He would always note different relatives with pride, from the inventors of the Winnebago Motor Home, and the first gas pump, to his great-grandfather who went to California in the gold rush. Charles stayed very mentally sharp his entire life, and was a very interesting conversationalist. 

He loved cars, especially Oldsmobiles, and drove them from the 1950s until they were no longer in production. He could easily identify a vehicle’s make, model, and year just by looking at it. He enjoyed drag racing and would sometimes take his car down to the drag strip to get timed. 

Charles enjoyed playing and watching sports, and he played on an AAU amateur basketball team after high school. Driven by their winning 1959 season, he was a fan of the Chicago White Sox, and was able to enjoy his 80th birthday party from a box in the ballpark. He particularly made an effort to attend his grandchildren’s sporting events and musical performances. He enjoyed card games, and in his later years spent many nights playing “Chickenfoot” dominos with his family around the kitchen table. 

He had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed traveling, and he and Joyce would often strike up conversations with strangers, making new friends and memories along the way. One of his most memorable trips was flying over New York on the Fourth of July en route to Norway, and watching the fireworks from the plane. Other memorable trips included vacations to Jamaica, Hawaii, California, Washington DC, and many trips to Marco Island, Florida. 

Charles loved little adventures on his farm. You could always see him riding his ATC, snowmobile, or golf cart around the farm. He enjoyed making dams in the creek with his grandchildren, picking wild mulberries, and cutting branches from the lilac bush to bring back home. He could turn mundane farm chores into adventures, as he would drive out to check the electric fence every day or assess the beaver dams in the creek. He even enjoyed burning off dead grass in the ditches, which may have resulted in a few calls to the local fire department. Charles enjoyed going to local farm auctions and would often be known to bring back new "treasures" that his grandchildren greatly enjoyed. He would make a special effort to bring fun for his family, whether it was constructing a sand box or swing set when his children were young, or setting up tree houses or bag swings for his grandchildren. Nothing could be better than a summer evening walk with his family down to the bridge on his farm to feed the fish in the creek. Or a walk along the railroad that went through his farm, setting pennies on the railroad track to be flattened, and then returning home for a dish of Schwan's ice cream, or a root beer float, of course.

In 1978, he and Joyce installed a large swimming pool on their farm, and they spent every summer since then (even at age 90!) swimming in the pool and enjoying summer nights on the sun porch with their family. 
Charles loved to laugh and joke, and his easy-going nature brought him many friendships. He loved getting coffee at local establishments and chatting with friends about farming or the events of the day. 

Charles was a lifelong member of Calvary Lutheran Church, rural Lee, where he was baptized, confirmed, and a fifth-generation member. He served on numerous committees and was the head funeral usher. He truly appreciated the members of Calvary who were his friends, neighbors, and family. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, a charter member of the Lee Lion's Club, and was a loyal member of the American Legion Post 654, performing military honors at the local cemeteries, and making an effort to place an American flag by each veteran’s grave in Union Cemetery every Memorial Day. 

A proud cattleman, Charles loved a good steak, any delicious food, and most of all he loved ice cream. A visitor wouldn't be at his home long before they would be asked, "Would you like a dish of ice cream?" 

On his last earthly day, Charles waited until he had received visits from all of his grandchildren and enjoyed his annual meal of Norwegian Kumla and Kringlas. He watched March Madness basketball, and he played cards with his family-- and won. One of the last things he said to his family before they left for the evening was, "It was a real treat." It was a treat to have known Charles, and he will be greatly missed. 

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joyce, of Lee; two daughters, Christine (James) Johnson, of Shabbona; and Eileen (Ronald) Duval, of Steward; one son, Michael Thorsen, of Lee; five grandchildren, Alexander Johnson, of Chicago; Abigail (David) Garcia, of Wellington, CO; Charles (Abagail) Duval, of Cheyenne, WY; Joshua Duval, of Chicago; and Margaret Duval, of Enterprise, AL; one sister, Kathleen Lutz, of Rochelle; and several cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Clayton & Mildred Heffner; aunts; uncles; numerous cousins; and his brother-in-law, H. Eugene Lutz. 

In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established in Charles's memory at Calvary Lutheran Church in rural Lee. 

Services will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church (19 Perry Road; Lee, IL) on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 12:00pm, with Rev. Jeff Johnson officiating.

Visitation will be immediately prior from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Following the service and interment at Union Cemetery, a luncheon will be provided in the church parlors, including a dish of ice cream.