Charles John LaVine passed away in Richmond, Va. Jan. 8, 2018.
John, as he was known by his family and friends, was born on 12 June 1925 to Knute LaVine and the former Alice Grandstrand. He grew up in Stillwater, Minn., attending its public schools, graduating in 1943.
He lived life to the fullest, was curious by nature, and not afraid to take a measured chance. He often said, “I’ve made lots of dumb mistakes but never regretted one, as they were learning experiences.”
Through a life filled to capacity, he was a:
Soldier: Along with his twin brother David, he served in Co. A, 383 Infantry, 96th Division. The 96th Division was to invade the Japanese island fortress of Yap but was redirected to make the invasion of Leyte in the Philippine Islands. Company A was part of the first assault wave, and it was during this assault that David, John’s Assistant Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) Man, was wounded. John would later reunite with Dave in a military hospital in Hollandia, New Guinea after he himself was wounded. John lost his left arm to shrapnel. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for Valor, the Purple Heart, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Student: Upon his medical discharge in 1945, John attended the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 1949 from its then-inter-disciplinary University College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Agricultural Economics, and Political Science. He went on to attend the University of Stockholm from 1949 to 1950 where he was diplomaed a Master in the General Humanities with emphasis on Swedish politics and economics. At the age of 72 from 1997-99 he attended the Humphrey Institute, the University of Minnesota, receiving a Master of Arts in Public Affairs.
Spy: John served in the clandestine services of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1952 to 1968. John met his wife Joan while both were assigned to Frankfurt am Main, Germany and they were married in Frankfurt. Two of his three sons are with “Spree Wasser getauft.” After six and one-half years in Berlin, John was reassigned to Washington, transferring to the Western European Division’s Scandinavian Branch where he was chief of its Swedish/Icelandic Desk. He was then assigned to Stockholm Sweden, serving there for four years. Upon his return to CIA Headquarters, he resigned in 1968.
Entrepreneur: Upon his resignation from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1968, John purchased and operated Shingwauk Village Resort in Aitkin, Minn. for five years. Selling the resort, he and his family moved to Grand Marais, where he established and operated an industrial and auto parts business, Grand Marais Auto Parts. Selling his business, John and Joan moved to the Twin Cities, first residing in Minneapolis then moving to St Paul, and finally moving to Richmond, Va.
Civic Servant: John has served on many boards and commissions as well as in public office. Among these have been as mayor of Grand Marais from 1980 to 1984; as chairman of its Public Utilities Commission from 1984 to 1992; six years on the Cook County Planning Commission, two of those as chairman; on the board of the Cook County Resource Development Commission; on the board of the Minnesota Resort Association; and served on two Citizens League study commissions: Transportation and Electrical Energy. Also after his graduation from the Humphrey Institute, he pro bono’d at the State of Minnesota’s Local Land Use Planning Assistance Center of Minnesota Planning for seven years.
Scholar: John translated Swedish language manuscripts, letters, journals, autobiographies, books, monographs and diaries for both the American Swedish Institute of Minneapolis and for the Minnesota Historical Society.
Survived by his three sons, Knut, Lars and Nils of whom he was very proud. All three have served the United States in its military services, the Navy for Knut and the Army for Lars and Nils. He enjoyed watching his three grandchildren Kendall, Sean and Eva grow into fine young adults.
Also survived by his wife Joan, “the best thing that ever happened to John.”
Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Stillwater, Minnesota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Minnesota Historical Society, the American Swedish Institute or the Boy Scouts of America.
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