Charles "Chuck" Troldahl

Charles “Chuck” E. Troldahl, 91, of Mankato, MN, died on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at River¹s Edge Hospital in St. Peter, MN.

Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m. on February 8, 2020 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 720 S. 2^nd Street in Mankato. Visitation will begin one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Linden Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hanska, MN at a later date. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Chuck was born November 20, 1928 in Hanska, MN, the youngest child of Ole O. and Rena Marstein Troldahl. Following his mother’s untimely death, Chuck moved at the age of seven to Mankato to live with his oldest brother, Thor, and wife, Verna, who loved and raised him as a son. He attended Mankato Public Schools and graduated from Mankato High School in 1946.  Upon graduation, Charles enlisted in the Marine Corps, proudly serving his country from 1946 until 1949.

While home on leave, Chuck met the love of his life, Loen Ahlness. They married in 1950 and enjoyed over 69 happy years together. In 1958, they settled in West Mankato, where they raised their four children and lived until last fall before their move to Ecumen Prairie Hill in St. Peter. Chuck worked for 39 years in Mankato and across southern Minnesota as a route driver for Zinsmaster and American Bakeries Company, and his children have fond memories of the days when they would accompany him while he made his deliveries.

Chuck was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where he and Loen served on several committees. He was a Scoutmaster for Troop #118 at St. Joseph the Worker in West Mankato. He was also a member of the Moose, Sons of Norway, Mankato Marine Corp League, American Legion, and the Teamsters Union. 

Chuck approached life with an upbeat, can-do attitude and entered any room with a smile on his face and a greeting for everyone. He took pride in his work. His industry and dedication made it possible for his children to go to college. He was an accomplished whistler and could often be heard at home or out in the yard whistling away one of his favorite tunes.

Chuck’s great love and joy were his wife, children, and grandchildren. For us, he was an exemplar, the standard up to which we all try to live. We will always remember the values by which he lived: that one should never lie, cheat, or steal in order to get ahead; and, that all are deserving of respect, no matter their station in life. Chuck was extremely proud of his Norwegian heritage, visiting Norway in 1998, and of being the child of immigrants. He fervently believed that immigrants were the backbone of America, a view he shared with every new immigrant he met.

Charles is survived by his wife, Loen; sons, Barry (Margaret) of Eden Prairie, MN; and Todd (Scott) of Shaker Heights, OH; grandchildren, Adam of Vienna, Austria, Rena of Los Angeles, CA, and Chad of Eden Prairie. He is also survived by his son-in-law, Robert Sullivan of Dallas, TX; sister-in-law, Arlys Sletta of Hanska, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Stephanie and Susan; parents; and brothers and sister.

“Du er en snill gutt.”