June 30, 1929 – March 7, 2025
Charles Enos Applen passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025, at the age of 95. Born on June 30, 1929, in Cresco, Iowa, Charles was the son of Enos and Bertina Josephine Applen. Also know as Pete, he grew up in Granger, Minn., a town he cherished for its close-knit community where everyone knew each other.
Charles proudly served his country as an Army radio telegraph operator in Germany from 1951 to 1952. Following his service, he pursued higher education, earning a bachelor of science degree from the University of Denver in 1959, majoring in mathematics with a minor in chemistry and physics. That same year, he married Lanny Rae Monkman.
A talented and versatile professional, Charles worked as a programmer on early IBM mainframes, mastering multiple coding languages from assembly to COBOL. He was also a proud union member of the Colorado and Southern Railway Company. Over the years, his career took him on many unique paths, including roles as a draftsman, taxi cab driver, house builder, apple canner, Navy contractor, and high school math teacher. In 1994, he retired in Garden Grove, Calif., later moving to Longmont, Colo., in 2020 to be closer to family.
Charles was preceded in death by his siblings Junetta Fishbaugher, Donald Applen, Corrine Applen and Allen Applen.
He is survived by his son Steven Charles Applen, and his youngest brother, Orrin Applen.
Charles will be laid to rest at Greenfield Cemetery in Harmony, Minn. He will be remembered for his sweetness, intelligence, resilience, and diverse life experiences.