Charlene Jo (Christiansen) Fuhrmann Obituary (1946

Charlene Fuhrmann when home to be with the Lord early Monday morning, December 4, 2017. Charlene (Christiansen) was born in Omak, Washington January 21, 1946. Her parents, Vern and Violet Christiansen. Charlene's father worked for the telephone company and her mother, in the restaurant business. The family moved to Bremerton, WA in the early 1950s. As a young teenager, Charlene lived with her grandparents on Washington Avenue in Bremerton. Charlene attended Smith Elementary School and Coontz Junior High School. She graduated from West High School and attended classes at Olympic Junior College, all in Bremerton. Charlene worked as a swim instructor at Glen Jarstead Aquatic Center and as a school bus attendant for Central Kitsap School District. In August of 1990 Charlene married Archie Fuhrmann. Archie and Charlene moved to Great Falls, Montana later that year, returning in 1992 where she resided until the time of her death in December 2017. Charlene came to faith in Christ at about the age of 17 and immediately began attending First United Presbyterian Church in Bremerton. In those teen years she worked as counselor at children church camps. Late, as a young adult she taught swimming to kids bot at Christian camps as well as at the YMCA and community aquatic center. Later she directed a number of church camps. Her great love was working as a Bible story speaker at church camps around Washington. She dearly loved both teaching church kids and camp work and she found great joy and satisfaction in serving the Lord Jesus in these areas. Charlene is survived by Archie, her loving husband of over 27 years. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. Her 4 brothers; Vern, Kevin, Gary, Chris and 1 sister, Terrie and their families survive her as well as numerous nephews and nieces as well as many special friends. There will be a memorial service celebrating Charlene's life at her church, Grace Community Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Additional information about Charlene's Life: When Archie and Charlene moved to Great Falls in 1990, Charlene continued to instruct swimming to children and adults at the city pool and Great Falls College. Charlene became active in the Nazarene Church, teaching Bible study to adults. She loved to share the Bible and her faith to anyone that would listen. Archie and Charlene moved back to Bremerton in 1992 and she continued to teach swimming at her old job and Bible study at the church. Charlene directed and taught at many Bible camps over the years and at one camp they all took the name of birds and she took on the name of "Cuckoo" and the name stayed with her and she even had a Montana license plate with the name "Cuckoo" on it. Charlene loved to be at the ocean for camps or just trips. While at the ocean she loved to fly kites, take long walks on the beach, looking for drift wood, or just listening to the sounds of the water hitting the beach with the love of her life, Archie. Growing up Charlene loved to be active. She got into swimming which lead her to her career in teaching swimming from beginners to advanced. Charlene could glide thru the water with such ease as to hardly create a ripple. She was also active in women's fast-pitch, playing in the Bremerton women's league for many years. She loved the game and become a fan of the Seattle Mariners and the Tacoma team and attended many games over the years. Charlene loved all her nieces and nephews. Not having any children, herself she would treat them to the new Disney movies that would be playing in town. She would treat them to popcorn, soda, and then McDonald's after the movies. One of her nieces made a comment that she was going home and watch some Disney movies while thinking about her Aunt Charlene and the good times they had. One of her nephews also made the comment that they could not get away with out, at the very least, giving her a "kiss" hello and good by each time she would see them. Charlene always took an interested in what they were doing and how things were going. Whenever they would get a new pet she always wanted to see it and then tease them that it was hers now and they were not getting it back, but in the end, they she always gave it back to them. Charlene loved to be with family. She would travel to Lynnwood to get her hair done by her sister-in-law and then meet up with her brother and go out to lunch. She loved the time she spent with them. Charlene also loved to play games whenever the family was together. She loved the game of Pictionary and some of her drawing were questionable at best, everyone would laugh and have a good time. The brothers and sister were blessed by having a luncheon with Charlene at her home in November before she passed away. A good time was had by all and there was one last picture of the all the brothers and sister together which will be cherished forever. Charlene will be missed by her husband Archie, her family and friends.