Charlene Elaine Lyrek, age 84, of Franklin Township, Wright County, MN passed away unexpectedly on June 8, 2016. She was born on April 13, 1932, the second child to Peter and Helen (Libor) Czech.

Charlene grew up on a farm next to St. Mary of Czestochowa Catholic Church in Franklin township near Delano, Minnesota. She graduated from Delano High School and then went to work at Minneapolis Moline in Hopkins. She was united in marriage to Anthony Lyrek on September 5, 1953 at St. Mary of Czestochowa Catholic Church.

Charlene and Tony built their first home in Hopkins. In 1957 they returned to farm life a few miles from where they grew up. They began raising a family in 1958 and were blessed with three children. She and Tony worked side by side on the farm and operated a farm equipment sales business for many years. Charlene loved to travel, polka, cook, can and garden. She was proud of being a farm woman and especially proud of her raspberries!

Charlene was preceded in death by her son Dennis, parents Peter and Helen Czech and an infant sister Rita; son-in-law Adelbertus Calis; brother-in-law Clairy “Gene” Ocker and sister-in-law Sharon “Sheri” Czech.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years Anthony; daughters Jane (Glenn) Slaughter and Irene Calis; grandchildren Antonia (Philip) Hope, Joseph (Natalie) Slaughter, Jacob Calis, Jodi Calis; sister Ardess Ocker; brother Peter Czech; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 13, 2016 at St. Mary of Czestochowa Catholic Church in rural Delano, Minnesota. Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday with rosary at 3:45pm, at the Iten Funeral Home in Delano, Minnesota. Visitation continued Monday from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the Mass at the church. Interment was in the church cemetery.