Charlotte Platte, 89

February 22, 1937 - 

September 1, 2026

 

Charlotte Rose Platte age 89 of Elma, IA, died Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 11, 2026, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma, with Rev. Bruce Miller officiating. Interment will be held at Howard Cemetery, Elma.

Friends were invited to greet the family from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Elma. Visitation continued for one hour before the service at the church in Elma on Friday.

Charlotte Rose Platte was born February 22, 1937, in Elma, IA, to Wyron and Elsie Buchholz.  Charlotte grew up in Elma and graduated from Elma High School in 1954.  While in school, she excelled academically (she skipped her freshman year), played on the basketball team, and played the French horn in the concert band.  As a teenager, she worked as an usher at the Elma Theater.  After graduation at age 17, Charlotte got a job at Lutheran Mutual in Waverly, IA.  

While living in Waverly, mutual friends introduced Charlotte to Emil Conrad Platte.  They fell in love and married on June 6, 1956, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elma, IA.  They farmed together just south of Elma for their entire lives together.  Charlotte devoted most of her time to raising their five children, but at harvest time she could be seen doing her not-so-favorite job of driving loaded wagons of corn with the tractor to the co-op in town.  

Charlotte and Emil’s children, Claudia, Ed, Tom, Nancy, and Joan, were the focus of much of their lives together.  The couple supported and attended nearly every activity that the children were in, including various school sports and music events.  Charlotte was even brave enough to be a chaperone for several of the high school out-of-state band trips.  When Charlotte was blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she very much enjoyed hearing about and following them in their lives and activities.

Charlotte loved and served Jesus throughout her lifetime.  She taught Sunday school and catechism classes at St. Peter’s.  She was a long-time member of the LWML and served as an officer many times.  She very much enjoyed going to the LWML conventions held throughout the United States.  She had her hand in making many LWR quilts.  But most importantly, she taught her children and grandchildren to know and love Jesus.

Charlotte also gave to her community by being a 4-H leader, serving on the library board, and being a member of the Howard County Cattle Women’s Association.

After the children grew up and left home, Charlotte and Emil liked to travel.  Florida, Myrtle Beach, Colorado, and Casa Grande, AR are a few of the places they explored.  They were also St Louis Cardinals and Caitlyn Clark fans.

On June 6th, 2026, Charlotte and Emil celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.  In 2026, they were also honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshals in the Elma Trail Days parade. 

Remaining to cherish Charlotte’s memory are her spouse Emil Platte of Elma, IA; her children: Ed (Shirley) of Charles City, IA, Tom of Elma, IA, Nancy (Dean) Morris of New Hampton, IA, Joan (Scott) Rauch of East Peoria, IL; son-in-law: Stan Humbargar of Denver, CO;  grandchildren: Andrea (Brian) Palmersheim, Ben (Rebecca) Morris, Kayla (Andy) Sebastian, Cody (Sarah) Humbargar, Aaron Platte and friend Ann, Blair (Colten) Leier, Abby (Matt) Wolf, Micah Rauch, Hannah (Donald) Merriman; Great-grandchildren: Addison and Anna Klein, Aria and Devin Sebastian, Hayley and Charlotte Leier, Clark and Leon Humbargar;  sister Marlys (Gary) Johnson

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Claudia Humbargar; daughter-in-law Janet Platte.