Charles 'Swede' R. Fellman
Charles "Swede" R. Fellman, 84, Brainerd, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, at home.
He was born Dec. 11, 1918, in Plummer to Albert and Volberg (Peterson) Fellman. He graduated from Plummer High School and then went to Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. After graduation he was employed by Western Electric. He was drafted into military service in 1941. He served as a cryptographer and radio maintenance man assigned to the 16th Fighter Squadron and worked with the Flying Tigers in China. He returned to the United States to attend Officer Candidate School. While home, he married Pearl Barness on March 9, 1944, in Crookston. After graduating from Officer Candidate School, he served as a first lieutenant with the HQ Signal Corps in the Southwest Pacific until the war ended. After the war until his retirement in 1976, he worked for Western Electric as a telephone equipment installation supervisor. He was a member of and was active in several organizations including the Telephone Pioneers, 14th Air Force Association, C.B.I. (China, Burma, India), VFW and American Legion.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kathryn Drew; a son, Richard Fellman; three grandchildren; and a sister, Alpha Sayler.
A sister, Vernice, died earlier.
Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd with Pastor Vern Broughton officiating. Burial with military honors will be by the Brainerd American Legion Post No. 255 will be in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley. Memorials are preferred to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd and an hour before services Wednesday at the church.