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SOLEM Charles Solem "Chuck" On Thursday, March 4, 2021, Charles Henry Solem passed away at the age of 95. Charles was born on August 20,1925 to Thomas and Edna (Findahl) Solem. Though born in Minneapolis, MN, Charles grew up in Osage, IA, where his father was the pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Charles was very active in the community, participating in multiple sports as well as the Boy Scouts, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating high school in 1944 he joined the Navy and served as a Communications (Signals) Officer on the USS Bergen, a troop transport deployed in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war Charles attended St. Olaf College, where he wrote a story about his experience in the Navy during Typhoon Louise - which he entitled "Typhoon Terror"; it won a nationwide competition and was published in the Atlantic Magazine. After graduating college Charles came to Washington, DC and worked for National Airlines while attending both Georgetown and George Washington Law Schools. Because of a fierce rivalry between the schools, neither recognized credits from the other. As a result, Charles did not obtain a law degree. He did, however, go on to teach a class at Georgetown, and his law studies served him well in his professional life. Charles started International Building Services (IBS) in 1954 when the Organization of American States (OAS) asked him to provide guard services for their building. This business relationship still exists, nearly 67 years later. Over time the OAS requested IBS provide janitorial and other services. A short time later the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) asked IBS to provide services to them. Since IBS only served international organizations such as the OAS, PAHO and embassies, Charles started P&R Enterprises in 1969 in response to commercial building owners in the area asking him to provide janitorial services to their buildings. Through IBS and P&R, Charles provided opportunities for thousands of Latin American immigrants to find meaningful work and achieve a better life. He affectionately became known as "Senor" to his staff, as he treated everyone with great respect, no matter what job description they had. His charisma and generosity touched not only his employees but many others (suppliers, vendors, accounting and law firms, etc.) with whom IBS and P&R had a business relationship. Charles began attending Luther Place Memorial Church in the 1950s and quickly got involved in a variety of its activities, from singing in the choir, to participating in the Young Adult Fellowship-where he would meet Marcia Johnson, a pretty flight attendant he would later marry-to taking on leadership roles on the Church Council. In the 1960s, as the Luther Place neighborhood changed, he asked himself: "Why are we here?" That question about Luther Place's reason for being at Thomas Circle spiked his curiosity and influenced who he would be as a leader. As a "PK" ("Preacher's Kid") he understood more than most the challenges pastors face as they attempt to lead their congregations in ways that are faithful to the Gospel. His commitment to supporting pastors in translating a Biblical mandate, such as "welcoming the stranger," into living, breathing ministries was unshakeable. He accompanied pastors to meetings with leaders in the interfaith and business communities, as well as in government, establishing and building strong relationships. These relationships were critical in supporting the church's mission of opening its doors - to homeless individuals needing shelter, to Central American refugees seeking asylum, to organizations working on social justice issues that needed meeting and work space. Risks go hand-in-hand with Biblical hospitality, but you could count on Charles' leadership abilities, self-confidence and humor to cool the temperature in the room when discussions got heated as to how best to live out that mandate. He strategized with the pastor and other church and community leaders on how best to develop a new N Street Village facility that could better meet the rising demands for affordable housing, medical care, counseling, meals and other critical services for homeless and formerly homeless women. Charles loved Luther Place and so enjoyed sharing stories about people and events from the church's history. There was wisdom in those stories, and sharing them was a gift from a faithful servant. Charles was also generous philanthropically, both personally and through his businesses. He supported many charities and educational institutions, including funding three scholarships at St. Olaf, supporting the building of the Cedar River Community Center in Osage, being a long-time financial supporter of N Street Village, and funding new computers for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. He received numerous awards, among them the Founders Award from N Street Village, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Osage High School and the Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Olaf College. Charles was married to Marcia (Johnson) for 68 years. They had three children, Thomas, Christian and Suzanne. Family was very important to him and he was pleased that his elder son Thomas came to work for him. Perhaps the most difficult time in his life was when his daughter, Suzanne, passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cancer. But it always brought him joy to be around his grandchildren, whether it was watching Andrew or Julia playing hockey, Emma softball, or staying up late to listen to Natalie and Annika when they visited. He also kept in close contact with his three sisters, Joanne, Andrea, and Solveig (who passed away on February 14, 2021) who he adored but also loved to torment. But more than anything Charles treasured relationships and spending time with friends, whether it was joining choir members at the Dupont Plaza Hotel after Thursday night rehearsals; inviting the entire class of LVC volunteers to the house for a picnic during their orientation week; Monday night bridge games with Chuck Whitten and Charlie Murray; long lunches with the N Street Village staff; inviting congregational members to football parties at his home after church, or Canasta games with the Febres family on Saturday evenings. Charles was a great storyteller but also a great listener. His huge smile, exuberant laughter, and glowing heart will be GREATLY missed by the literally tens of thousands of people and businesses he's touched over the years!!! May his memory be a source of blessing and inspiration to all who knew him!!! A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in Charles' memory may be made to Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://lutherplace.org/ or N Street Village, 1333 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://www.nstreetvillage.org/.A">www.nstreetvillage.org/.A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in Charles' memory may be made to Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://lutherplace.org/ or N Street Village, 1333 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, https://www.nstreetvillage.org/.
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I only learned today of Chuck´s passing last year and of the memorial service for him held last month. I was saddened to hear this news and to not have known about the memorial service, which I would have attended had I known. He was an admirable man, and it was always a pleasure to see him at Luther Place pre-pandemic. He and Marcia were both so kind when my husband Bill had terminal glioblastoma. Marcia and family you have my condolences.
Carol Goter Robinson
Friend
April 9, 2022
It was so good to be with many of you, Chuck`s family and friends, on Saturday to honor Chuck`s memory and to celebrate his extraordinary life of service!
William Stewart
Friend
March 8, 2022
I will always remember Señor Solem, with his great smile and the kind person he always was. I had the honor to know him, you were a great Jefe and always open to anyone who needed you.
Diana Ivonne Angela Cox
Work
February 17, 2022
We will remember Uncle Charles for his big infectious smile! his love of lefse:), his love of laughter, and his inherent generosity; his drive to help those in need all while happily maintaining his strong work ethic; a loyal steward possessing a profound love of family, faith, and friends.
We will remember Uncle Charles with the love and joy he so naturally shared and inspired in anyone who was fortunate enough to know him.
With much love, affection, and many wonderful memories,
Inger and family
Inger Kales
Family
March 23, 2021
Pat and Dave Donahue
March 21, 2021
S. Freedman & Sons Family
March 18, 2021
Will Stewart & Peter Laugesen
March 15, 2021
A great generous and funny person. I’ll miss him.
Meson Argueta
Coworker
March 14, 2021
He was a great family man.
Margaret Mahan
Friend
March 14, 2021
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