Obituary of Charlotte Ann Weakley

Charlotte Ann Stepan Weakley October 6, 1941-November 4, 2015 Charlotte Ann was born on October 6, 1941 to Charles and Mary Stepan of Mosinee, Wisconsin. She grew up on a humble dairy farm that lacked indoor plumbing for most of her childhood. Her beloved grandparents were immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Charlotte was proud of her Bohunk heritage, enjoyed pivo, and danced the polka at every opportunity. At the age of 19, not long after graduating from Mosinee High School, she boldly moved to San Francisco with her friend, Jeannie. Charlotte lived in the center of "The City" on Pine Street with the cable car running below her apartment window. She returned to Madison, Wisconsin where she met and married Gregg Weakley in 1969. The couple moved to Lacey, Washington the same year, where Charlotte was the personal secretary for Governor Dan Evan's wife, Nancy. They eventually settled in Vancouver, Washington. Charlotte and Gregg purchased a wooded property they named "Bunker Hill" and built a home in 1980. The family devoted three decades to planting flowers and trees, transforming it into the park of Charlotte's dreams. Charlotte's favorite flowers were hydrangeas. She had a magic touch and grew many of the plants by simply sticking a branch in the dirt, and they now grow in abundance. Charlotte firmly believed she was placed on Earth to care for others. Her greatest joy was feeding her family and friends, and no one left Bunker Hill without a full stomach, an armload of home-canned goods, and several pounds of vegetables from her garden. Those who love Charlotte remember her extreme acts of generosity and her exuberance. Wherever she went there was a party. She had a way of making instant, life-long friends with everyone she met- including a little girl selling lemonade on the side of the street. Many considered Charlotte their other mother. Charlotte loved geese, and there were always at least two on the property, oftentimes more. She also had a love of vegetable gardening. She was most proud of her tomatoes, and her garden contained over 50 plants of different varieties. Single tomatoes frequently weighed two pounds each. The greatest joy she had in recent years was the moments shared with her three-year-old granddaughter, Anndrey. They were peas in the same pod, and Charlotte instilled in Anndrey her passion for cooking, gardening, and raising chickens. They saw each other on a daily basis, and Anndrey prided herself on being a "helper girl" and assisting Grammy with chores. Charlotte died November 4, 2015 in Vancouver, WA at the age of 74. Charlotte was preceded in death by her father Charles Stepan of Wisconsin and dear friend Helen Bliss of Wisconsin. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Gregg, her son Gerrick and his wife Melanie, her granddaughter Anndrey, all of Vancouver, Washington; her mother Mary Stepan, brother Bob Diane Stepan, sister Grace Frank Rondeau of Wisconsin; sister-in-law Gail John Gregg of Vancouver, Washington; numerous nieces and nephews; friends who considered her family; her loyal dogs Callie and Sig; and her two geese, Bongo Ben and Angel Amy. A memorial service for Charlotte will be held at Straub's Funeral Home in Camas, Washington at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2015, followed by a celebration of life at Her Son and Daughter in Laws home. Please plant a flower, tree, or tomato to honor Charlotte in lieu of sending flowers. To send condolences or to sign the online guestbook please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.