Charles Warne Colson

Charles Warne Colson was born May 23, 1938, the first son of Amel Charles and Lela Evelyn (Warne) Colson, in Mankato, Kansas.  He was joined four years later to the day by a brother, Richard.  Warne started school at the East Union country school less than a quarter mile from his rural home.  He went there Grades 1-7.  When Warne was 12, his father died, giving Warne a strong sense of responsibility for his family.  For the Eighth Grade, he went to Montrose Junior High.  He attended Mankato High School for four years and graduated from there in 1956.  In 1961, he graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Feed Technology, finishing the five-year course in four and one half years.

Warne joined the Kansas National Guard, stationed at Mankato, and was called to active duty during the Berlin Wall crisis in 1961, serving in the 170 ^th Ordinance Co.

On October 22, 1966, he married Charlene Thelander.  They lived in Mankato until they built their home outside of town, where they lived the rest of his life.  In 2016, they celebrated their Golden Anniversary.

For the remainder of his life, Warne was a farmer and stockman in rural Jewell County.  In addition, he and his brother – Richard owned and operated a custom harvesting business for several years, cutting wheat and milo from Texas to the Dakotas.

Warne died March 8, 2019, at the Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit, Kansas.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister-in-law, Margaret (Grimes) Colson; and a nephew, Mark Colson.

He is survived by his wife – Charlene of the home; his brother – Richard Colson of Mankato; niece – Crystal Lynn and husband, Mitchell Cosand and her children – Kylene Cosand, Clay Mitchell Cosand and son – Kaiser Cosand, and Conner Mark Cosand; nephew – Nicholas and wife, Kate Cosand, and their children – Evelyn Margaret Cosand and Cullen Cosand; four cousins; and a host of friends.

A gathering of family and friends attended a visitation at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2019, to say farewell to Warne.  Warne had requested cremation.  A graveside service for the family will be scheduled at a later date.  Condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com .  Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.