Charles Lundquist

POLAND – Charles Johnson Lundquist, 89, affectionionately known as “Pastor Chuck,” entered the Church triumphant on Aug. 16, 2018.

Born in Williamsport, Pa., on Nov. 6, 1928, he was the son of Benjamin and Edith Johnson Lundquist.

An Eagle Scout, Rev. Lundquist graduated from Gettysburg College in 1950 and enrolled in the Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Ill., where he earned his Master’s of Divinity degree in 1954. He was ordained into the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North American that June.

His first call was to serve the Zion Lutheran Church in Oil City, Pa. In November 1954, Rev. Lundquist assumed duties at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman. There he served the Bethel congregation for 33 years. During his tenure at Bethel, the sanctuary presently in use was built and dedicated in 1964. Implementing the Stephens Ministry Program, co-hosting a local TV religious talk show, the 100th anniversary of the Bethel Congregation and serving as President of the Mahoning Valley Council of Churches were highlights of his ministry.

He was committed to his congregation and furthering the Christian message in his community. He worked on many ecumenical councils, proudly serving on the Ecumenical Coalition of the Mahoning Valley during the closing of the steel mills. He also served on numerous community boards, including the Alcoholic Clinic of Youngstown, Children Service Board of Mahoning County and the Youngstown Playhouse.

Rev. Lundquist was a 50-plus year member of the Boardman Kiwanis Club, serving as president at the age of 80. He also served terms as Chaplin for the Boardman Township Police and Fire Departments as well as the Youngstown State University football team. A 50-year season ticket holder, he was an ardent supporter of Boardman athletics and Boardman schools. He was co-founder and later president of the Boardman Youth Center.

He was a member of the Wittenberg University Board of Directors for 32 years. He was honored to receive the Oil City Chamber of Commerce Committee’s Young Man of the Year award in 1958, Ohio State Governor’s Award for Community Service in 1973, Boardman Civic Association’s Man of the Year Award in 1987 and be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Wittenberg University in 1998.

Of all these professional and community involvements and awards, it was his role in his family that he most enjoyed. He was the husband of the late Ilene Engdahl Lundquist, whom he married in 1954, and proud father to their two daughters, Ingrid A. Lundquist and Lisa L. Grimm. He was proud to call his daughters’ husbands his sons, the late D. Nicholas Carson (Ingrid) and Richard A. Grimm (Lisa). By far his most favored role later in his life was that of “Farf” to his grandchildren, Leah G. Lovell (Alex), Katherine A. Grimm, Lindgren M. Carson, Britta I. Carson and Dylan M. Carson (Phoebe). He was the great-grandfather of Sophie Ilene Lovell and Oz Graham Carson.

Rev. Lundquist was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his son-in-law; and his sister, Ann L. Lindholm.

Friends may call on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel and Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive in Youngstown before the funeral service at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Pastor Chuck may be made to the ministries of the Martin Luther Lutheran Church or to Grace Hospice, 7206 Market St., Suite B, in Boardman. Both of these institutions were near and dear to Rev. Lundquist’s heart and enriched his life.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this obituary and send condolences.