Charlotte Ann Schaetzel von Gunten, age 98, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 10, 2025. In the weeks prior to Char's passing, a stream of friends and family visited to watch over her while she prepared for the next stage of life's journey.

Char, a proud Colorado native, was born in Denver in 1927 to Jacob ("Jake") Valentine Schaetzel and Emma Drumm Schaetzel. She was the youngest of five children, and as the youngest, probably felt she had something to prove, and so lived six years longer than any other family member.

Char graduated from East High, the University of Denver, and the University of Denver Law School. She became a lawyer long before it was common for women to choose that profession, and, according to the Denver Post, was the "youngest lady" member of the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations when she passed the bar in 1950. Char practiced law in Denver with her father and brother Gene, as the only father, son, daughter legal practice known (again according to the Denver Post). Later her attention turned to her three children after marrying Lou von Gunten in 1955.

Char started skiing Colorado in an era when she thought Vail would not survive because it was too far from Denver, and enjoyed tennis and swimming with Lou and her children at Skyline Acres.

Lou and Char began a series of adventurous moves for education and career opportunities in 1969. The family of five first moved to Norman, Oklahoma, and from there to San Pedro, California, then to Concord, New Hampshire, and then back to California. Both Lou and Char turned their legal careers into becoming law librarians. For years Char was the head law librarian in Fresno, California and later in Sonoma County, California, from which position she retired. A few years after retirement Char came home to Colorado where she lived until her passing. She split time between Denver and Taos, New Mexico, where she renovated a centuries old adobe, wrote, and immersed herself in Taos culture.

Char valued education, and passed that value on to her children, all of whom have graduate/professional degrees. As Char and Lou said, education is something that can never be taken from you. Char was a voracious reader, and remained interested, and kept her intellect sharp, through her love of the written word. As a librarian, she found her calling.

Char is survived by her three children and their partners: Charles (Frank), Janet (Tim), and David (Lisa); along with her grandchildren Chris (Sudy), Matthew, Victoria (Sean), Andrew and Reid (Rachel); and her great children from grandson Chris and his wife Sudy: Cameron, Alexandra, and Roxanna. Of course Char is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and their children from her older siblings, many of whom spent time with Char during her last few years; particularly Betsy Buck, and Forrest and David Garrison, for whose time, care and love Char's children are very grateful.