Charlene LaPorte, age 87, passed into the Lord’s hands August 5th, 2016. Charlene retired in Colorado Springs from her nomadic life as a military wife of 23 years.
Charlene was born in Glen Elder, Kansas April 13, 1929, to Kenneth and Louise Kohler. Her early years were spent on her family farm with her brother, Farren, and she began her adulthood by earning an Associate Degree at Kansas State University. She began teaching in a one room school house at the end of the lane in Glen Elder.
Her life in rural America changed abruptly when she married James LaPorte in 1951 and began her career as a military wife. During her tenure as a military wife she became the mother of five children and guided her family through tours in Georgia, Alabama, Germany, Panama, Wisconsin and Kansas, eventually retiring in Colorado Springs in 1967.
Reaching back to her education, Charlene volunteered as a teachers’ aide with her daughter, Jackie, at the Kreative Kinder Preschool and then later on at Sunrise Elementary with her granddaughter-in-law, Becca, giving her experience for the children in the community. She was also active in her church and Bible study.
Her love of travel remained strong and in her later years she traveled to Australia three times to visit and experience the country with her son, Randy; learned to scuba dive in Hawaii with sons, Michael and Randy; and explored northern Florida with son, Michael, and his wife, Jana.
Charlene is survived by her five children: Michael (Jana), Jon (Chris), Randy (Brenda), Cindy, and Jackie (Rick) Kiger; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., Colorado Springs, on Thursday, August 11th at 2:00pm with private entombment.