Charlotte Darleen Siegfried

Charlotte Darleen Siegfried, 83, of Milford, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Goshen Hospital.

She was born on October 28, 1941, in Warsaw, Indiana, to Donald and Barbara Anne (Bumgardner) Harman. Charlotte graduated from Warsaw High School in 1960 and went on to attend Purdue University, where she met the love of her life, David Siegfried. The two were married on March 23, 1963, and shared 28 years together until his passing on July 17, 1991.

Charlotte is survived by her two children, D. Paul (Ann) Siegfried of Huntington, Indiana, and Amanda Siegfried of McKinney, Texas; two grandchildren, Zachary Royal of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Zoe (Gavin) Royal of Frisco, Texas; and one sister, Carolyn Beigh of Claypool, Indiana. She also leaves behind eight nieces and nephews, as well as many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, David, her son-in-law Derek Royal, and her brother-in-law Royce Beigh.

Charlotte was deeply rooted in her community and committed to public service. She worked at the Milford Public Library before serving multiple terms as the town’s clerk-treasurer from 1995 to 2011. She also volunteered with local elections and served on several boards, including the county board of zoning appeals.

A woman of faith, Charlotte was a long-time member of the Milford First Brethren Church, where she once taught Sunday School and helped create the church’s monthly free community meal. She was also a dedicated supporter of the local food pantry.

In 2018, Charlotte survived a serious fall that resulted in a broken neck. True to her resilient spirit, she recovered and continued to live independently with support from family, friends, her church, and her cherished neighbors, Eric and Heidi Kohlberg and their daughters, whom Charlotte considered part of her family. She was forever grateful for their care and companionship.

Creative and industrious, Charlotte was an avid knitter who for many years spun her own wool yarn. Nearly every Christmas included handmade socks for loved ones, and she regularly donated socks, hats, and scarves to those in need. She also created beautiful quilts that reflected her eye for color and design.

A member of the Kosciusko County Historical Society, Charlotte was active in the genealogy section of the organization and often took part in historical re-enactments where she could showcase her yarn-spinning talent.

As the family genealogist, Charlotte spent decades researching the Harman and Siegfried lineages, tracing ancestors back centuries. She often joked that every Harman family photo seemed to include a dog and someone holding a fish—an observation that suited her own life well.

Charlotte carried on both traditions. She was devoted to her Old English sheepdogs and bearded collies, and she was an avid angler from an early age, growing up on Center Lake and Chapman Lake. She tied her own flies, favored a cherished split-bamboo fly rod, and passed her love of fishing on to her husband, children, and grandchildren. Some of her happiest memories were made during summer vacations at the family lake home at Carp Lake, Michigan.

She also found joy in her garden, sharing its bounty with others and canning so extensively that her children joked she could survive an apocalypse. Charlotte loved Halloween, especially crafting handmade costumes, and she and David became beloved holiday figures when they dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus to hand out hundreds of homemade popcorn balls to Milford children. Christmas always featured the largest, most “perfectly imperfect” real tree they could find, towering under their 10-foot ceilings.

Charlotte was a fan of college football and basketball, particularly of her Purdue Boilermakers, and watching the NCAA basketball tournament was always appointment viewing.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Mishler Funeral Home, 461 W 900 N, Milford, IN 46542. An additional hour of calling will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Lee Compson officiating.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Milford Public Library, the Milford First Brethren Church, or the Milford Food Bank, in care of Mishler Funeral Home, 461 W 900 N, Milford, IN.