December 29, 1943 — November 16, 2023
Mason City
Charles Leon Sweetman, 79, of Mason City, died Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N Pennsylvania Ave. A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N Pennsylvania Ave. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Elim Cemetery, Rural Fertile. Memorials may be given to Elim Cemetery, the Stockman House, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, North Iowa Community Kitchen, Planned Parenthood of Iowa, or a charity of choice.
Charles was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 29, 1943, to Charles E. and Shirley M. (Jones) Sweetman. He graduated from high school in Johnstown, New York and received his B.S. from Iowa State University.
Charles was married to Nancy K. Kingland in Fertile, Iowa, on August 6, 1966. Following college, they served in the Peace Corps in Pama and Puerto Rico for four years. Charles worked most of his career at Prairie Ridge Addiction Treatment Services in Mason City as a counselor and supervisor. He was active in human rights and environmental issues.
The Peace Corps experience ignited an interest in international travel for Nancy and Chuck. They had the good fortune to visit every continent and over 70 countries and enjoyed sharing these travels with many groups in North Iowa over the years.
Charles is survived by his wife, Nancy Sweetman of Mason City; one daughter, Elsa Salazar (formerly Melba Sweetman) Albuquerque, NM; four brothers-in-law, Douglas (Debbie) Oathout, Gloversville, NY, David (Susan) Kingland, Forest City, Ronald (Sandra) Kingland, Owatonna, MN, and Marvin (Mary) Kingland, Hanlontown; two grandchildren, two great grandchildren, twelve nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, sister, Susan Oathout; and parents-in-law, Kennes and Alice Kingland.
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