OSAGE — Charlotte Anne Kirkegaard, 94, of Osage, died Friday, August 14, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage following a brief battle with heart disease.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 833 Ash Street in Osage. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church before the service. The Rev. Dr. Laurie Iudin-Nelson will officiate. Inurnment will take place at a later date.
Charlotte was born January 5, 1932, in Lindsay, Nebraska, to Ferdinand and Odetta Thomazin Pearson. She graduated from high school in Genoa, Nebraska, and continued her education at Luther College in Wahoo, Nebraska, and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. It was during her college years that she met Anton Kirkegaard.
Charlotte and Anton were married August 22, 1954, in Lindsay. Their life together took them to communities throughout Iowa as Anton served as a Lutheran pastor, including Hamlin, Underwood, Monticello, Inwood and Fort Dodge. Following his retirement, the couple settled in Osage.
Education was an important part of Charlotte’s life. Early in her career she taught in a one-room schoolhouse, and she later worked as a substitute teacher in a number of Iowa school districts. For many years, she also sold World Book encyclopedias.
Charlotte’s remarkable talent with a needle and thread became one of the defining parts of her life. She began sewing when she was only 7 years old and became an accomplished seamstress capable of creating elaborate wedding dresses, sometimes working from little more than a photograph.
Her sewing skills also became a ministry that reached far beyond North Iowa. Beginning in the 1960s, Charlotte devoted herself to work supporting Lutheran World Relief. Over the decades, she sewed and helped assemble more than 4,000 quilts that were sent to people around the world. In 2026, Lutheran World Relief recognized Charlotte internationally for her many decades of quilting ministry and service to the church.
Charlotte also enjoyed reading and baking, particularly cookies and cinnamon rolls. Above all, she took tremendous pride in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the family that grew around her during her 94 years.
Charlotte is survived by her three children and their families: Scot Kirkegaard and husband Kenny of Liverpool, New York; Sarah Campbell and husband Mark of Osage; and Sela Hackert and husband Mark of Cedar Rapids.
Her family also includes grandchildren Christian and wife Jenny, Simon and wife Laura, Chloe and husband Ben, and Maya and husband Jeremiah; seven great-grandchildren; as well as step-grandchildren Tory Hackert and wife Alyx, Quinn Hackert and wife Katie, and Lincoln Hackert and wife Amanda, along with five step-great-grandchildren and another expected.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Anton Kirkegaard; her brother, Roger Pearson; and her grandson, Sgt. Jacob Hutchinson.
Hoff Celebrations – Champion Chapel of Osage is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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