Charles H. Alm
Charles H. “Charlie” Alm, 100, of West Lafayette died July 15th, 2022. Born March 8th, 1922, in Fairmont, Minnesota, Charlie was the third of ten children of Martha and Fred Alm. In 1948 he married a "Chicago girl," Lenore Bowman, daughter of Evelyn and Carl.
During World War II, Charlie joined the Army and served in France and Germany, receiving a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
He attended Purdue University, earning Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Education. He taught school for 33 years at Durgan, Sunnyside, and Tecumseh in Lafayette, Indiana. Most of his career he taught Industrial Arts (Shop class)--plastics, metalworking, electricity, and electronics--to eighth graders. He was a proud member of his teachers’ union, NEA, ISTA, and LEA, and a leader in state professional organizations including IIEA.
An accomplished woodworker, Charles built hundreds of dulcimers and even wrote a book about how to build them.
He had a great sense of humor and was a wonderful storyteller, creative, kind, generous, and always busy making something. He "grew up in the woods" and was an avid hunter as a young man, helping put food on the table during the Great Depression. All his life he loved fishing.
Charles and Lenore were the loving parents of three children, David (Louie Laskowski), Janet, and Robert; four grandchildren, Edward, David (Finn Lange), Joel (Amber Peters), and Gloriana; and three great-grandchildren, Owen, Rachael, and Shoshana.
Charlie enjoyed reading, playing cards, traveling, and making music. Although he lived to be 100, he was never a drinker and stopped smoking at the age of seven. He did, however, have an undeniable sweet tooth.
A memorial gathering for close family will be held at a later date.
Contributions in Charles’ memory may be made to Lafayette Urban Ministry, Heifer International, or your favorite charity.