The Lord called Charlene to her eternal home October 14th, 2009, after surviving in this world for 81 years. Born on January 27, 1928, Ashland, WI, she gladdened the heart of her parents, Ken and Lucille Traeger. She was adopted into God's family through Holy Baptism soon after birth.

Charlene received her education in Gresham, WI, and completed her nursing career at Misercordia College, Milwaukee, WI, and served at the Borchardt Clinic in New London, WI, where she met Robert L. Sawall and joined in marriage on December 28, 1950, at Emanuel Lutheran, New London, to follow him to Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL to study for the ministry.

She faithfully followed her husband supporting him as a vicar at a preaching station that eventually became Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church of Bangor, MI. After the final year of seminary training at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI, the family moved to Trinity Lutheran Church, Lincoln, MI; from there to Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Africa; after six plus years they were called to Manitowoc, WI, to serve at Bethany Lutheran Church; and again called to Lubbock, TX, to establish a congregation, which eventually became Shepherd of the Plains Ev. Lutheran Church; and from Lubbock called to Jakarta, Indonesia, to serve the Gereja Lutheran Indonesia, returning to Wisconsin in 1988 to care for her mother at Gresham, WI. In the mean-time her husband was called to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Flower Mound, TX. When her husband retired in June 1993, they opened up their Gresham home as a Bed and Breakfast called Night Song.

In January 1996, she accompanied her husband to Jakarta, Indonesia, and then to Bali at which time she was poisoned, which brought about the closing of the B&B. The trauma of poisoning caused an early on-set of Alzheimer's. She followed Bob to San Angelo, TX, to serve Our Redeemer congregation. Because of need for family, they moved to Appleton with Bob serving 2 years as Campus Pastor at Univ. WI Oshkosh followed by serving St. Paul Lutheran, Clintonville.

Charlene's delighted in her six surviving children and will shine as the stars in heaven for leading them to know their Savior, Jesus Christ, even as God used her to lead her husband back to Christ and into the ministry to serve their Savior.

Her joy was in reading several books a week along with crocheting afghans and quilting.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Naomi Charlene, then by her parents, Judge Ken and Lucille Traeger, a brother, John Traeger.

She is survived by her husband, Robert L. Sawall, six children: Sandra (James) Sehloff, Manitowoc; Robert L. (Sue) Sawall, W. Milwaukee; Thomas Todd (Penny) Sawall, Cleveland, WI; Rebecca (Roger) Plath, New Berlin, WI; Paul James (Christina) Sawall, Hurst, TX; and Ramona Charlene (Scott) Jindra, Oshkosh, WI; two siblings: Donna (Vernon) Reinert and Kenneth (Mary) Traeger.

In June 2001, Charlene and her husband moved to Appleton, WI. In 2006, she entered the Colony Oaks Care Center.

Special thanks to Colony Oaks Care Center, Appleton, WI for their tender loving care of Charlene for more than three-years.

All memorials may be made out to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church for a memorial to Charlene, which will flow as support to the Indonesian Church.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 20th, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 930 E. Florida Ave., Appleton, WI. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. followed immediately by worship and then lunch. Committal service will be at Floral Hill Cemetery, New London.

VALLEY

FUNERAL HOME

2211 N. Richmond Street

Appleton, WI 54911

920-733-5435

www.valleyfh.com

"Serving as

would be Served"