Thore Charlie Lofgren

Thore Charlie Lofgren, 79, of Salida, Colorado was born April 16, 1939 in Trondheim, Norway. He died suddenly in his home on December 17, 2018 as result of health complications leading to hypertension cardiovascular disease. He is preceded in death by his parents Olof Edvard Lofgren and Jorund Kristense Hjelle, his older sister Sylvia Lofgren (Nils Lowenmark) and his older brother Yngve Lofgren (Elizabeth Lingwall). At the age of 13 months, Thore’s family travelled to Sweden to escape the German invasion of Norway. He was carried by his brother and sister through the treacherous terrain between Norway and Sweden. As a young man, he would ski to school during the winter and he played soccer in the summer. At the age of 14, his family immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island, New York. His family settled in Salt Lake City, Utah. He later became a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He graduated from South High School in 1957. At the age of 19, he was called to serve a church mission back to his home in Sweden. While preparing for his mission, he became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. While giving his mission farewell talk in church, he saw the woman he would later marry, Helen Evaline Shaffer. Upon completion of his church mission he married Helen in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 16, 1962. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Utah. Thore and Helen had six children Jacob Olof Lofgren (Sherri), Anita Evaline Brown (Garry), Audrey Marie Boston, John Edvard Lofgren (Jodee), Sonja Barbara Lofgren, Mark Stephen Lofgren. Thore has 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Thore is also survived by nephews, nieces, grand nephews, and grand nieces. Thore worked as an accountant at Husky Oil Company from 1968 to 1980 in Cody, Wyoming. In 1980 he moved his family to Aurora Colorado. He enjoyed stamp and coin collecting, hunting, fishing and especially visiting and picnicking in Yellowstone National Park. Many of these activities he enjoyed with his family. While being a loving husband and father, he volunteered in the Boy Scouts of America and many other capacities in church service. He spent many of his later years serving as a seminary teacher where he taught many youth and became a mentor to them. A memorial service will be held on January 12, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 1140 Poncha Boulevard, in Salida, CO. Internment will be announced later. In Memory of Thore, donations can be made in lieu of flowers to: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America or Yellowstone Forever at Yellowstone.org

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