Charlene M. (Fadness) Bakke, 87, of Lutheran Living, in Muscatine, Iowa, formerly of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away Dec. 23, 2015, at Trinity Muscatine, following a short illness. Funeral services were Dec. 30, 2015, at Elim Lutheran Church, in Marshalltown. Visitation was Dec. 29, 2015, at Anderson Funeral Homes, Marshalltown. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.

Charlene was born on Oct. 9, 1928, to Nels Lewis Fadness ’22 and Signe Adolphson Fadness, in Fergus Falls, Minn. She was married to Richard W. Bakke on Aug. 14, 1954. Charlene graduated from the nursing school at Fairview Hospital, Minneapolis, received her B.A. degree from Luther College, and her M.A. degree from Iowa State University, in Ames, Iowa. After their marriage, the couple managed a nursing home in Kearney, Neb., before moving to Marshalltown. She began working as a nurse at the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in 1957 and later became an instructor at its school of nursing. She spent several years as the assistant administrator and later the director, until it closed in 1986. Charlene continued to work as a nurse at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center for several years and for Iowa River Hospice after retirement. She was also an adviser to the Marshalltown Child Study Group. Charlene and Richard were members of Elim Lutheran Church, where she served in many ways, including several leadership positions. She was also the bookkeeper for her husband's businesses and became a parliamentarian. They shared a love of antiques and collectibles. Together, they built up no less than 15 collections, including pens and inkwells, Depression glass, and Wallace Nutting prints. They set up exhibitions of their collections at various shows and events. She and Richard attended many Marshalltown Community Concerts, always taking two of their five children along. Charlene was happiest when surrounded by her friends and her family. She had a good sense of humor and encouraged that in her children. She taught them how to do many things, including fishing, sewing, and Scandinavian cooking. Charlene had a passion for books, maps, and travel. Her travels to Europe, South Korea, and Scandinavia provided endearing memories for the rest of her life.

Charlene is survived by two daughters, Mary (Bakke) Nurre ’78 (Steven Nurre ’78), of Shanghai, China, Martha Bakke Eggers of Marshalltown; two sons, Erling (Pam) Bakke of Chouteau, Okla., and David Bakke ’81 (Amy (Ludwig) Bakke ’83), of Muscatine; 13 grandchildren, including Emily (Bakke) Owens ’08 (Mike Owens ’08), and Ari Bakke ’14, 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, David Fadness ’55, of Austin, Minn. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard, one son, Eric Bakke, and a son-in-law, Harry Eggers.