Services Saturday For Philanthropist Charles E. Lakin
Mills County philanthropist Charles E. Lakin died March 28 at the age of 94. Services are scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 10:30 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Emerson with burial to follow in the Emerson Cemetery.
Mr. Lakin is survived by his wife, Florence, three children, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A graduate of Emerson High School, Charles Lakin farmed for much of his life.
For many years, Charles and Florence Lakin earned recognition for their financial support and contributions to local organizations and programs in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
The Lakins sponsored the first Southwest Iowa “Honor Flight” to Washington, D.C., for World War II veterans and are the founders of the annual Outstanding Teacher Awards program in southwest Iowa. They’ve supported many programs for children in Iowa and Nebraska, including the Boys & Girls Club of Council Bluffs and the Council Bluffs YMCA. Their generosity brought about the Charles E. Lakin Human Service Campus in Council Bluffs and the Charles E. and Florence Lakin Community Building planned for the Mills County Fairgrounds in Malvern.
A complete obituary notice for Mr. Lakin is published on page 2A.