Charmaine Anderson Stolz

Charmaine (McKenzie) Anderson Stolz, age 92, of Highlands Ranch, CO passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 12, 2023 in Denver, CO.Charmaine was born on September 30, 1930 in Arkansas City, KS. to William (“Mac”) and Pauline (Votaw) McKenzie. Charmaine grew up primarily in Wichita, KS near the beginning of The Great Depression. She and her parents moved frequently during her childhood years, and Charmaine attended 7 different elementary schools..one of those schools she attended every year during each elementary school grade! Due to this experience, Charmaine became a naturally outgoing & friendly person, which gave her the unique skill of being able to make friends everywhere she went!During World War II, her father served in the United States Navy and was based out of California. During that time, Charmaine and her mother lived in Oceanside, CA for a year when she was around 13 years old. Although it was most certainly a challenging time for them during the war, Charmaine always reminisced fondly about the time they spent in Oceanside. They eventually returned to Wichita, where she graduated from North High, class of 1948. Charmaine greatly enjoyed being an art major at Wichita State University, during which time she was also a member of Delta Gamma sorority. During her college years, she worked as a draftsperson in the oil & gas industry. She also sang professionally with local bands (Big Band/Jazz style) which started when she was in high school, as she was a very talented singer with a beautiful voice. She began singing at a very young age, even singing on the local radio around the age of 9! Charmaine retired from singing professionally at age 21, when she married Thornton E. Anderson on September 4, 1952. As an only child, Charmaine longed for a big family - which came true for her with their family growing to include 5 children. She stayed very busy during these years, taking care of her children & family along with other activities such as volunteering for the Junior League, during which time she was able to utilize her modeling talents! In 1970, the Anderson family began visiting Colorado, primarily settling on Aspen where they lived full-time for one year from 1974-75. Charmaine fell in love with the mountains as much as she had fallen in love with the ocean so many years prior in California. Though they moved back to Wichita after living full-time in Aspen for that year, they continued to own their home in Aspen where Charmaine and her family spent much time, creating many fun and treasured memories, visiting Aspen on a regular basis and spending extended time during the summers.In 1979, after all but one of their children were now off to college, Charmaine and Thornton moved to Denver, living in the Cherry Hills area. Within the first couple of years living in Denver, they separated and later divorced in 1982. Charmaine continued to live in Cherry Hills while Thornton moved back to Wichita. After their divorce, Charmaine met her soulmate/love of her life, Tony Stolz. Charmaine and Tony moved together to California in early 1984. They loved exploring many parts of CA, and lived everywhere from Carmel to Venice Beach, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Niguel…anywhere they could be near the ocean! Charmaine and Tony were married in 1986 in Laguna Niguel in a beautiful small ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean, witnessed by daughters Amy & Mary, who also lived in California at that time. Though they so greatly enjoyed living in Southern California, Char & Tony made the decision to return to Colorado, moving back to Denver in the fall of 1992 with daughter Amy and Amy’s daughter…their newest granddaughter, Lauren.Over the next 15 years, Charmaine & Tony lived mostly in the Denver & Highlands Ranch area, other than a brief time when the mountains were calling and they went to live in Aspen. After Tony’s passing in early 2007, Charmaine called upon her ability to make new friends and started engaging in new activities and meeting new people, which led her to being part of a regular bridge group in the Denver area. During Charmaine‘s many years in Colorado, she treasured spending time with those of her children and grandchildren who also lived in Colorado.From 2015-2018, Charmaine decided to return to Wichita, during which time she enjoyed rekindling old friendships, particularly with friends Roz and Shirley, and spending time with her family in Wichita, including 4 great-grandchildren! Charmaine returned to living in the Denver and Highlands Ranch area in 2018, where she spent her remaining years near her family in Colorado.Over the years, Charmaine always had a love of dogs (including her beloved Carly, Cashmere, her childhood dachshund and others!). She had many interests and passions, including music, cooking, entertaining, and gardening…along with several other hobbies such as tennis, golf, playing bridge, reading, attending adult continuing education classes, and travel. Her love of travel included repeat visits to the Southwest, specifically Santa Fe and Taos, where she fell in love with and began collecting Indian art, baskets, rugs and jewelry. She always had a keen sense of fashion, in addition to having a love and appreciation for interior design..to the point that she sometimes joked about often being in a continual state of “urban renewal“ (i.e. remodeling her homes)! Needless to say, Charmaine’s vibrant presence will be dearly missed by family and friends.She was predeceased by her husband, Anthony (Tony) L. Stolz in February 2007, her son, Joseph M. Anderson in March 2020, her infant daughter, Karen Lynn Anderson, and her parents, William and Pauline McKenzie in 1980 and 1985.Charmaine is survived by her son, Rev. Basil (Bill) and his wife Kh. Holly Anderson of Wichita, KS; son, Earl Anderson of Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter, Amy Anderson of Denver, CO; daughter, Mary Anderson of Carbondale, CO; 7 grandchildren: Thomas, Jane McKenzie, Lauren, Eddie, Danny, James and Paulina; and 4 great-grandchildren.A funeral service for Charmaine was held at St. Michael Orthodox Church in Park City, KS on April 1, 2023 and she was interred near her parents at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita, KS.A Celebration of Life for Charmaine with her family and friends was held in Denver, CO.Memorials have been established at Elevation Hospice of Colorado, 7850 Vance Drive, Suite 230, Arvada, CO 80003 and at St. Michael Orthodox Church, 2710 E. 61st St. N., Park City, KS 67219.