Stanley C. (Charlie) LaFrenz died Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois. In his own words, his obituary follows:
Charlie was born December 12, 1942, in Fort Madison, IA, to Joseph S. and Eva Lancaster LaFrenz. He was raised by his mother, Eva and step-father, John H. Orozco. He attended Ft. Madison schools and graduated from Ft. Madison High School in 1961. He graduated from Burlington Junior College and then attended Northeast Mo. State College in Kirksville, Mo. In 1966, Charlie enlisted in the Army Security Agency and after basic training, was sent to the Defense Language Institute to study French and then to Ft. Devens to learn traffic analysis. His final assignment was a unit in Bangkok, Thailand, working in French and Crypto/ Traffic analysis during the Vietnam War. While still at Devens, he wrote essays and built displays for the Legacy of Freedom Program receiving several letters of commendation. While in Thailand he volunteered at Dr. Piera's orphanage and other programs. He was honorably discharged in Jan. 1970.
After loafing for a while, Charlie returned to what was then Northeast Mo State University, earning a BA in French with minors in Spanish and history. With BA in hand, he returned to his former career of bar tending, mainly at Caesar's and the Country Club in Fort Madison. With some GI bill funding remaining, he decided to try something new and attended Bill Hill's Academy but, after 3 years of showing poor talent for hair design he decided he was not successful in this endeavor. As he approached his 40's he realized it was time to use his education and enrolled at Western Illinois University and after two years, earned his teaching certificate. He spent his teaching career at Central Lee Middle School, teaching Language Arts, and Exploratory Spanish, retiring at age 65.
Early in Charlie's teaching career, he was invited to play Bridge and was partnered with Janet Fife, his future wife, and the rest is history. Together, they bought a great old house on Grand Avenue in Keokuk and were married in front of the fireplace in May 1997. With Janet, also a teacher, they spent their summers traveling throughout Europe, dancing wherever they found a dance floor. When Janet's daughter Menda married and had 2 children, Charlie became "Papa Charlie" to Jada and Jacob.
Charlie's love of dancing brought him great joy. He also had a passion for Russian Imperial history and spent much of his spare time reading biographies.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Janet, her daughter Menda (Carlos) and her children, Jada and Jacob of Washington D.C. Also surviving are his brother, John D. Orozco (Louise) and their children, Erin (John) and Ben (Bree) as well as their children all of Colorado who affectionately know him as "Uncle Charlie." He also leaves behind his father's 2 children, Barbara (LaFrenz) Johnson and Wayne LaFrenz, his dear friends the Sloat family, dear cousins and friends, and his dog Jasper.
Charlie's body has been donated to the University of lowa College of Medicine. After science is finished with his remains, he is leaving his estate to his niece and nephew, Erin and Ben, so that they may take some of his cremains to all the places he has been around the world to sprinkle some here and there.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam Museum or Planned Parenthood or other organization of your choice. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Keokuk Yacht Club. King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory in Fort Madison is assisting the family. Online condolences to the LaFrenz family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
