Charlotte "Char" Ann Handzel

COTTAGE GROVE - Charlotte “Char” Ann Handzel, age 77, of Cottage Grove, was called home by The Heavenly Father. She passed peacefully on the afternoon of January 5, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin, with the love of her life holding her hand.

She was born on September 2, 1947, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, to the late John George and Velvia Marie (Bentley) Haney.

She attended Marengo High School in Crawford County, Indiana, and was a lifelong learner. A voracious reader, Charlotte kept up with news, current events, and frequented Christian book stores to restock her bedside bookshelf.

Charlotte met the love of her life, Henry “Hank” James Handzel, Jr., originally of Buffalo, New York, by chance one evening in Kentucky after a friend convinced her to go out. She was wearing a black and white polka dot dress. He was in jeans and sporting a military buzz cut. He thought she was pretty and stopped to talk to her as he was about to leave. He asked her to dance and because it was her birthday a couple of days later, asked to take her out to celebrate. They soon became engaged.

Hank and Charlotte married on January 20, 1973, at St. Rita Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky. They spent over 50 years together and had many wonderful memories like riding horses, traveling to Custer State Park, having Sunday breakfast at The Village Café, attending church services, and many family gatherings.

They moved to Wisconsin in 1978 because of its beauty and Hank’s career as an attorney. Later, they worked hard to build their farm, Whiskey Run Farms, along with the rest of the family. Charlotte never got tired of the beautiful country landscapes, except perhaps when they appeared on the other side of “that filthy window,” usually one decorated with doggy nose prints, muddy pawprints, and kid finger smudges.

Family was very important to Charlotte. She adored children, and they needn’t be family for her to shower them with love. She and Hank raised four kids: Shary Lynn Tenjum of Cottage Grove, Megan Ann Senatori of Madison, Laura “Lola” Helen Handzel of San Diego, and Nathan Daniel Handzel of Cottage Grove. Charlotte also helped raise her beloved grandchildren who say they’ll miss her smile the most, and her great granddaughter who says she is irreplaceable. Charlotte was a devoted and faithful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She was a caretaker to all, and she was a hero for tenderly providing end of life care for both her mother and Hank’s dad, who called her his angel.

Charlotte’s southern charm never faded, and neither did her family’s amusement for it. She always kept everyone well-fed, and she made the best homemade biscuits and gravy ever.

She loved Hallmark movies and shared them with all, and she didn't understand why anyone wouldn't have a VCR and DVD player to watch them on.

In more youthful years, Charlotte was an athlete, impressively running 4-5 miles several times a week, running half-marathons and marathons, as well as running the 20-mile Syttende Mai several times. She once proudly won a half-marathon, telling others with contagious laughter how she’d been the only runner in her age bracket. Another time, Charlotte and Hank comically won a trophy for being the worst bowlers in their league.

She was an avid animal lover, rescuing and taking in countless dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, sheep, cows, bunnies, fish, and one very lucky lovebird found in the UW Arboretum. She took great joy in caring for and watching the many hummingbirds that flitted among her beautiful, manicured flower gardens, flower pots, and the window bird feeders she dutifully kept filled.

Char, as her friends called her, loved fiercely, and she often treated strangers as familiar friends too. One might be with her when she’d strike up a conversation with someone she seemingly knew. But really, she’d never met them or even laid eyes on them before. She was just that outgoing, and frequently complimented others. She was a character, and she loved to laugh. She cherished meetups with friends, and her friends meant the world to her.

Her enduring Catholic faith was of the utmost importance to her and helped carry her through good times and bad. She became Catholic after she met Hank, and she cherished her faith.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, Hank; her children, Shary Tenjum (Carl), Megan Senatori (Adam), Laura “Lola” Handzel, and Nathan Handzel (Elizabeth Jacobson); her brother, John D. Haney (Karen, deceased) of Palm Bay, Florida; her sisters, Sharon Dunn (James, deceased) of Central, Indiana and Joni Heishman (Nelson) of Corydon, Indiana; her grandchildren, Amanda Sheldon, Caitlin Sheldon, Jordan Wendt, and Samuel Senatori; and her great granddaughter, Harlee Sheldon-Zarn. She is also survived by the many animals on the farm deeply mourning her loss.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her mother and father, Velvia M. and John G. Haney; her sister, Terry M. Kintner (Mike) of Corydon, Indiana; and her brother, Shannon Haney (Robin) of Carefree, Indiana.

A small, private funeral and Catholic Mass for immediate family is being held at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Her final resting place will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Cottage Grove. A celebration of life will be held at the family farm at a date to be determined.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the future to a fund or foundation that the family is creating in Char’s honor, with information to be shared at a later time.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420