Dr. Charlotte Ward, a retired early childhood educator and advocate, passed away on February 17, 2021, at the age of 80 from Alzheimer’s disease.  She fought this relentless disease until the end and was surrounded by her daughters when she passed, with ashes blessing her for Ash Wednesday.

Charlotte is survived by her daughters:  Alicia Ward and Heidi (Dean) LaBounty; sisters Kathy (Kurt) Finnie and Heidi (Mike) Kactro; grandchildren Madison and Colin Cocuzza and...

Dr. Charlotte Ward, a retired early childhood educator and advocate, passed away on February 17, 2021, at the age of 80 from Alzheimer’s disease.  She fought this relentless disease until the end and was surrounded by her daughters when she passed, with ashes blessing her for Ash Wednesday.

Charlotte is survived by her daughters:  Alicia Ward and Heidi (Dean) LaBounty; sisters Kathy (Kurt) Finnie and Heidi (Mike) Kactro; grandchildren Madison and Colin Cocuzza and Chloe and Georgia LaBounty; and nephews Curt, Kyle, and Chris Kactro.  She was preceded in death by her husband, James Ward, and parents Reverend Alfred and Virginia (Manley) Wittmann.

Charlotte was born a “Preacher’s Kid” in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, on January 15, 1941, to Reverend Alfred and Virginia Wittmann.  A lifelong Lutheran, she graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education.  She married James Ward on April 4, 1964. 

Charlotte was a devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.  Her passion was the education of young children and children with exceptional needs.  She loved to learn and grow as an educator, first obtaining her Master of Science in Education degree in 1986 and ultimately her Doctor in Philosophy degree in Educational Administration in 1996.  She founded First Lutheran Church Preschool in 1977 in Geneseo, Illinois, and later went on to lead Western Illinois University’s StarNet Project, consulting for the state of Illinois’ early childhood education community.  Her lifelong passion for teaching, learning, and growing was carried on by both daughters.  She enjoyed conversations over a nice bottle of wine, philosophizing how to create a good society and a better world for all children.

Charlotte loved animals.  She is happily walking all of her beautiful dogs:  Brandy, Andy, Misty, Shadow, Maggie, and grand-dog, Blossom, in heaven.  She was a “busy body” and possessed boundless energy right to the end:  walking, cleaning, gardening, weeding, shopping, cooking, and serving others.

A Midwesterner most of her life, Charlotte and Jim retired to Arizona in 2001.  They enjoyed traveling, happy hour margaritas with chips and guacamole on their patio, and time with family and friends.  A third generation Green Bay Packer fan, Charlotte passed on the love of the game to her children and grandchildren—Go Pack Go.  She enjoyed volunteering at church and the Foothills Food Bank and developed a deep respect for Native American traditions while living in Arizona.

A memorial service will be held this summer in Lake Mills, Iowa.  Charlotte will be united with her husband, Jim, and their ashes will be buried together in a family plot.  In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to honor Charlotte’s passions:  Foothills Food Bank, the Humane Society and the Alzheimer’s Association.

To quote Charlotte’s favorite psalm:  This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

On our way rejoicing, Charlotte!