Charles "Chuck" Mindemann

Charles “Chuck” Mindemann, age 94, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026 at his home in Des Moines, Washington.  Born on November 22, 1931, in Breckenridge, Minnesota, he was the eldest of two children born to George and Charlotte (Peterson) Mindemann. 

Chuck grew up on the family farm in Wahpeton, North Dakota, where he was an excellent student, the star center on the high school basketball team, and began college during his senior year of high school. While in college he enlisted with the Army National Guard during the Korean war and trained in Alabama as a medic before returning to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks to complete his Law degree.

While active in the Lutheran Campus Association, Chuck met the love of his life, Arlene Joyce Jensen. They married on December 20, 1954, in Arlene’s home town of Minot, North Dakota and recently celebrated their 71st anniversary. They lived in married student housing and their first child was born while Chuck completed his Law degree.

After Chuck obtained his Law degree he began his 38 year career with State Farm Insurance in auto claims.  Beginning briefly in Minnesota, he soon jumped at the opportunity to move to the west coast.  Starting in field operations, he rose to lead many claim service centers and claim resolution teams across Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska. His career took the family to Olympia, Tacoma, Puyallup, and Renton, Washington, as well as Salem, Oregon and Bozeman, Montana.  He eventually retired in Redmond, later moving to Tumwater, Washington.  

A dedicated servant to his faith and community, Chuck enjoyed volunteering and serving in many roles in the church and even in retirement obtained an advanced degree in Lay Ministry from Lutheran Bible Institute (Trinity Lutheran College). This journey eventually brought him full circle to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Olympia where he and Arlene and their first two children were charter members in 1957.  In retirement, he volunteered for 17 years at Capital Medical Center in Tumwater and remained active in church life and community service. He enjoyed gardening, long daily walks, square dancing with Arlene, playing cards, going to the gym, and playing pool.  He also took great pleasure in spirited driveway basketball games and competitive pool and ping pong matches with his kids and grandkids.

Travel was a special pleasure for Chuck. Over the years he and Arlene took the family on many short and long road trips, and in retirement they enjoyed travels to Hawaii, Disney World, New England in the fall, and a European river cruise. He also enjoyed hosting his family on an Alaskan cruise to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

Chuck will be remembered for his generosity, servant’s heart, quiet strength, and a gracious acceptance of others.  His steady presence and loving spirit will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents George and Charlotte (Peterson) Mindemann, and his brother Ronald George Mindeman.

He is survived by his beloved wife Arlene and his four children, Steve MIndemann (Mary) of Burien, Washington; Cheryl Huff of Bothell, Washington; Karen Fauser (Chuck) of Keizer, Oregon; and Scott Mindemann of Santa Rosa, California; as well as 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on March 21, 2026 at 2:00pm at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 1700 Edmonds Ave NE, Renton, WA 98056. Military honors and interment will follow on March 23, 2026 at 12:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, 13708 Eighth Ave E Parkland WA. 98445.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Community Services Northwest,  or to The Mayo Clinic in support of Progressive supranuclear palsy research.

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