Charlene Nadine Lohnes-Gambrel

Charlene Lohnes Gambrel of Eden, Idaho went home to be with our Lord on Wednesday, June 3, 2015. She was 82 years old. Born to Alvin Henry and Hilda Anna-Marie (Werner) Meyerhoff on March 31, 1933; she was the second of four children.

Charlene spent her youth in Eden where she enjoyed school, music, skiing, and working on her family’s farm. Charlene graduated from Eden High School in 1951 and went on to pursue her passion for music at Schubert’s College of Music in Chicago, IL where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. It was in Chicago where she met the love of her life, Edsel Ford Lohnes of Lunenburg Co. Nova Scotia, Canada. They shared 37 wonderful years together.

In the early years, they divided their time between Nova Scotia and Eden, eventually settling in Idaho to raise their family. Charlene taught piano lessons, volunteered at school and church and worked side by side on the farm with Edsel while raising their seven children. She shared her love of skiing with her kids and spent their summer vacations camping and hiking the Sawtooth Mountains near Redfish Lake. A few years after Edsel’s death in 1992 she re-met and married former classmate Floyd Gambrel in the summer of 1996.

Always the adventurer, Charlene’s love of travel took her from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean; from an Alaskan cruise to zip-lining in Costa Rica; from Venezuela to motorcycle trips across the US and Canada. Never was there a harder working, more cheerful human being. Charlene loved her family dearly. Ever the doting playful grandmother, she always had time for her grandbabies. We will miss her teasing laughter and beautiful smile.

Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edsel Lohnes, son Matt Lohnes, son-in-law Harvey Miller, grandson Jory Lohnes, granddaughter Bresha Lohnes, and sister Patricia Meyerhoff.

She is survived by her second husband Floyd Gambrel, Eden; sister Geraldine Meyerhoff, Hagerman; brother Clemons (Nancy) Meyerhoff , Newark, Delaware; (Children), Darlene Lohnes, Jerome; Vickie (J.B.) Shirk, Kimberly; Crystal Stewart, Jerome; Verlyn (Karen) Lohnes, Eureka, NV; Bruce (Gina) Lohnes, Eden; Brian (Kim) Lohnes Battleground, WA; Brent (Kolene) Lohnes, Houston, TX; (Stepchildren), Cliff (Niki) Gambrel, Kimberly; Doug Gambrel, Boise; Dena (Joe) Schott, Meridian; Curtis (Melanie) Gambrel, Glendale, AZ; Kaisa (Kelly)Mitchell, Boise; 32 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Funeral services and viewing will be held Monday, June 8, 2015 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 1602 East 1100 South in Eden. A viewing for family and friends will start at 1:00 pm with service starting at 2:00 pm. Graveside service will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Services are under the direction of White Mortuary, Chapel by the Park, Twin Falls.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.whitemortuary.com.