Charlene A Kuglin

Charlene Anne “Char” Dohmeyer Kuglin, 84, of Great Falls went to be with God on April 20, 2016 from her home while surrounded by family. A vigil service will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. Funeral liturgy will be held on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with rite of Committal to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. What a truly special lady and a life well-lived! She was incredibly strong and a forever smiling person. Char was born February 24, 1932 in Great Falls to Charles and Elizabeth “Bessie” Dohmeyer. A self-described tomboy, she was raised on the Westside of the river along with her sister, Marjorie Dohmeyer Fura. In her younger years, she enjoyed summertime at her Aunt’s farm in Fairfield and running with school buddies. She married James J. Kuglin on June 2, 1951. June of this year will be the 65th anniversary of their union. The family includes six children and their mates: Michael Kuglin and Kathy McDermott, Dave and Anne Kuglin, Barb Kuglin and Dock Philpot, Jamie and Vicki Kuglin, Polly Kuglin and Joe Aline, Dana and Kelle Kuglin. Each child was lucky to have an “old school” upbringing that included home cooked meals, family vacations, carpools, church, handmade clothes, and many other joys. This family is even larger, of course, including six grandsons and six granddaughters, her “even dozen”: Jason, Amelie, Rosalie, Jeremy, Cody, Jericho, Haley, Christalie, Israel, Ethan, Amberlie, Annabella; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was the consummate Grandmaattending sporting events, concerts, recitals, and any school activity; playing cards and checkers for hours; baking special treats; and never forgetting a birthday. In addition to all the aforementioned people, Char’s family also includes many nieces and nephews and friends who consider her a favorite. She never missed an opportunity to send a card or clipping. Char’s work life consisted of many things, mostly at Western Drug and managing the bookstore at MSU COT. She loved her books. Char also particularly liked crosswalk guarding in spite of (or because of) sitting in the cold in her unheated VW. She enjoyed volunteering at the elementary school level and at her Church. She was an active member of each of the Westside Catholic parishes at different times in her life. Char’s devout Catholic faith was a driving force in her life. She loved music, playing the cello as a child and the piano. At first she did this with her mother and sister, and then later, she taught her kids and grandkids little ditties on the piano. Char always wanted to be outdoors walking with family and friends, day or night. She enjoyed the cabin at Logging Creek, the trailer at Seeley Lake, and FINALLY the cabin at Seeley. The water was so important to her: swimming (often with a child on her back) or pedaling around on the pedal boat. She loved, loved, loved Seeley and truly found her bliss there! Her favorite pastimes included batting the tennis ball around with Marg W. or tooling around with Grandma D. In fact, the most oft repeated comment about Char just might be some variation of “There goes that Great Little Lady with those BIG glasses, zipping about town in her VW.” They don’t make them like her anymore.