Charlotte LaForge

Charlotte Birdsall LaForge, 75, passed on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa on September 16, 1939 to Kenneth and Nadine (Hendrickson) Birdsall.

Charlotte was a strong and determined woman from the start. She dropped out of high school to help support her family but earned her GED in 1977 while working at USF&G where she eventually became an Underwriter. In 1982 she remarried and for a time stayed home to care for her children. But Charlotte was accustomed to caring for herself and her children, so she worked for the Regis Company part-time in the evenings and later became a flight attendant for Access Airlines in 1999.

Charlotte was an avid Iowa State fan due to their wonderful veterinarian program but was a fan of all teams as long as they were not playing against Iowa State. Most of all, Charlotte loved spending time with her granddaughters. Having them over to spend the night, shopping with them, and just being together. She also had a fondness for animals, in particular dogs and horses. Even working at Prairie Meadows for a time to be close to the horses.

This incredibly strong, independent, loving and giving woman will be greatly missed by her daughters, Andrea (Jeff Wood) LaForge and Jacquelyn (Jerad) Huber; granddaughters, Elizabeth Charlotte and Elin Renee Huber; the father of her children, Gene LaForge, Jr.; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs, Snoop Dogg and Dizzle. Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Edith Soroka.

Memorials may be directed to the family in honor of Charlotte. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be held on Friday, June 26, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA.

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