![]() ![]() It's older and aging more than Iowa as a whole. Read more: Iowa's changing demographics > Source: Woods and Poole Economics Inc 2015 Ansgar bears similarities to many struggling places in rural America. That quality of life - the connectedness - appealed to the DeMarises, who've settled in, with Katie finding a local yoga group and Tyler a spin class, and friends who enjoy a beer and a fire along the Cedar River.ĭemographically, St. Ansgar residents could name at least half the people in town. A 2014 Iowa State University survey of small town life found 53 percent of St. The albino deer that pranced around the woods for nearly a decade in the 1980s now stands stuffed on display in the town center. The town is known for its annual Oatmeal Days, which is a nod to the local oat processor and largest employer, Grain Millers. Population centers of Mason City to the south and Austin, Minn., to the north - each with about 25,000 people - are a half-hour's drive away, as are major thoroughfares Interstate 35 and 90.Ĭedar Rapids, Des Moines and the Twin Cities are each about a two-hour drive away. Ansgar, founded by Norwegian immigrant farmers in 1853 and named for the patron saint of Scandinavia, is located along Highway 218 and the Cedar River. You will begin to receive our Daily News updates. Add your contacts. Surprising everyone, including their bosses, family and friends, they quit their near six-figure jobs, sold their hillside home overlooking the Mississippi River and moved from one of Iowa's growing areas to a county that's been shrinking since the 1960s to buy a hardware store. Last fall when John Deere offered a separation agreement, they crunched the numbers and suddenly the timing made sense. They'd never owned a business, but they were handy, and each had master's in business administration degrees. The DeMarises were interested, but the timing was off. Ansgar, a farming town of 1,156 people near the Minnesota border, in the plains of central Iowa, was put up for sale. They missed having family nearby, and Deere had been cutting jobs.Ī few years earlier the hardware store in Tyler's hometown of St. 'We were super busy at work, super busy at home, and with a two-, three- and five-year-old, it wasn't going to get any easier. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel 126 3rd St NE Mason City 64 ColonialChapels.'We were constantly working, and if we climbed higher, we'd just get busier,' added Tyler, 31. Ansgar, IA, Mervin and Myrtle Hanson, Austin, MN. Those left to cherish memories of Aaron are his parents, Dennis and Colleen Charlson of Mason City, IA aunts and uncles, Mary (Ken) Swenson, Osage, IA, Gretchen (Harlan) Eliason, Sacred Heart, MN, Orin (Ann) Hanson, Brooklyn Park, MN, Neal Hanson, Scandia, MN, Gene (Angie) Hanson, Hanover, MN cousins, Burke (Tatum) Swenson, Tanner (Ashley) Swenson, Mitch (Anna) Graves, Kari Eliason, Nick Engstrom and Kirsten (Justin) Bjorkland.Īaron was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, Herbert “Mike” and Cappie Charlson, St. Aaron will be remembered for his unique sense of humor, his kind heart and forgiving nature. Animals brought him a lot of happiness not only his own but eventually the pets in his apartment building. He had a love for music and playing guitar. In later years, Aaron worked for Diamond Vogel Paint Store until 2005 when he suffered a stroke. He was baptized at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Austin, MN and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA. Visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St NE, Mason City.įamily suggests that memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of North Iowa in Mason City, or any charity that makes a difference in the lives of animals and or humans in need.Īaron was born September 4, 1973, in Mason City, IA, the son of Dennis and Colleen (Hanson) Charlson. Burial will take place at the Bear Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery. Aaron Michael Charlson, 48, died of natural causes, on Septemin his Mason City, IA home.Ī Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am Saturday, Octoat Bear Creek Lutheran Church, 74727 265th St, Grand Meadow, MN, with Pastor Larry Iverson officiating.
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