Charlotte J. (Van Gorp) Damman

Charlotte J. Damman, 81, of Newton, passed away peacefully July 21, 2020, from complications of COVID-19.  A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at Newton Union Cemetery.  The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, July 28. 2020, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Memorials to Mercy Hospice can be left at the funeral home.

Charlotte, daughter of Robert and Celia (Millgate) Van Gorp, was born December 13, 1938, in rural Reasnor, Iowa.  She attended the one room elementary school a half mile from her home and graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1957, where she played trombone in the band.

Upon graduation she took a job at Jasper County Savings Bank in the bookkeeping department.  In 1958, she met the love of her life, Jerry Damman at a ladies’ choice skate at Highview Roller Rink and they were wed September 3, 1959, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To that union were born two sons, Jeff and Dwight.

Charlotte spent her life as a farmer’s wife in every meaning of the word.  Whether it was washing dirty clothes in a Maytag wringer washer, sorting hogs, driving the “H” Farmall on the hayfork, attending band concerts, warming up a lamb in a bushel basket on her kitchen register, tending her garden, or making Christmas Ice Cream pie, she was always there to care for Jerry, the boys, and the farm.

In retirement, (although neither really retired) Jerry and Charlotte traveled a great deal to many places in the US. Charlotte’s greatest joy was attending her grandchildren’s events, seeing softball games, baseball games, show choir concerts and dance recitals. She was very proud of her grandchildren. 

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jerry, sons Jeff (Lisa) of Ankeny and Dwight (Tammy) of Newton; grandchildren: Desiree (Tony) Cameron of  Newton, Ryan (Samantha) Damman of Des Moines,  Shelby (Chad) Price of Newton,  Rachel (Jonathan) McCann of Ankeny, Derek Damman of Newton, and Rebecca Damman of Ankeny; brothers, Eldred Van Gorp of Newton and Carroll (Lois) Van Gorp of Reasnor; brother-in-law, Marion Willemsen of Newton; great-grandchildren: Tabitha, Statler, Meredith, Isla, and George; step-grandchildren: Jackie (Matthew) Shea, Sophie and Parker of Unionville, MO, Dalton Taylor of Westbrook, MN, Chelsey (Kailer) Stevenson, Jaxson, Rylee, Lillee, and Linken of Mercer, MO, and Dustin (Amanda) Taylor of Newton; along with many nieces and nephews.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law, Laverne and Jean: sister, Wanda; and sister-in-law Grace.

Charlotte’s family wishes to acknowledge the staff of Newton Health Care Center for their care of Charlotte for the past five years, Dr. Chan, MercyOne Newton Medical Center, and Mercy Hospice.

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