Charlotte Marie Kohanek, age 86, of Virginia and formerly Babbitt, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2015, at Essentia Health Virginia Care Center. Charlotte,
known as Char to her many friends, was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great- grandmother, sister and friend.

Born in Ward Township, Minnesota, on January 11, 1929, the daughter of William and Emelia (Bergvall) Seiler, Char was raised on a farm by her aunt and uncle, Elmer and Tina Bergvall. She attended Clarissa High School and in 1945, she married Richard Kohanek. Char and Richard farmed in Browerville, Minnesota, before relocating to Chisholm, Hibbing and finally to Babbitt in 1955.

Char was a homemaker, worked as a cook and housekeeper for Timber Bay Lodge
and as a waitress and caterer for the Babbitt Cafe for 20 years. She enjoyed an active life;
taking daily walks, playing golf, camping, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.
An avid reader, she was active in the Babbitt Friends of the Library as well as the Gay 9-Tees, the Red Hat Society, the St. Pius X Catholic Church Women's Circle and the Babbitt PTA. Char was a longtime member of TOPS and served as President of the Babbitt Chapter.

Char is survived by her children: Lawrence (Susan Sarkela) Kohanek of Shakopee, Sandra (Tim) Smith of Chicago, Susan (Lenis) Mastin of Eveleth, Peggy (Doug) Lashmett of Babbitt, and Karen (Pat) Fredrickson of Bemidji, four grandchildren: Jeff (Jodi) Kohanek, Amy (Pete) Ocel, Tiffany (Andrew) Runestrand, and Devin (Desta) Lashmett; and seven great-grandchildren: Tyler and Mackenzie Kohanek, Finley and Sailor Maanum, Jack Runestrand, and Peyton and Cohen Lashmett.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Richard, parents, William and Emelia Seiler, Aunt and Uncle, Elmer and Tina Bergvall, and siblings, William Seiler and Elaine Gallanio.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 30, 2015, at the St. Pius X Catholic Church in Babbitt with the Reverend Father William Skarich as the celebrant. A gathering time for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the mass at the church. Interment will take place following the mass at the Argo Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Essentia Health for the loving care given to Char during her four years as a resident.

Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. Condolences may be shared online at www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Gathering Time for Family & Friends 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. ,Saturday, May 30, 2015
St. Pius X Catholic Church
15 Ash Blvd. Babbitt, MN 55706
Memorial Mass 11:00 a.m. ,Saturday, May 30, 2015
St. Pius X Catholic Church
15 Ash Blvd. Babbitt, MN 55706
Inurnment 12:15 p.m. ,Saturday, May 30, 2015
Argo Cemetery
Highway 21 Babbitt, MN 55706