Charlene M Sannes

December 11, 1936 - October 02, 2022

Charlene M Sannes Obituary Charlene Mae Sannes (Age 85), a Spokane resident for 81 years, passed away peacefully at Colonial Court on Sunday, October 2, 2022. Born December 11, 1936, in Orofino, ID to Charles Albert Plank and Cora Ellen (Dickinson) Plank. At the age of 4, she moved to Spokane with her mother and older sister. She attended Lincoln, Holmes, and Sheridan Grade Schools, then Libby Jr High. She graduated from Lewis & Clark High School at 17, with many achievements. She was the editor of the school paper, head cheerleader, and co-queens with her best friend Claudia (Westland) Otis. She also attended Kinman Business University and Spokane Falls Community College taking Business and Accounting courses. She met Milton Sannes from Rogers High School at Loon Lake. He worked in the summer at Cedar Beau Bay Resort. Ironically, they discovered they both worked during the school year on Garland Avenue; he at the Garland Theatre, and she directly across the street at the Westland Bakery. Charlene married her high school sweetheart, Milton, on September 2, 1955, and they raised four children together, living in north Spokane. Charlene built her career at Washington Brick & Lime and Grinnell, and then spent 17 years at the Guardian Life Insurance Company in the Special Investigation Unit, a job she enjoyed and excelled at. She also spent many tax seasons working at H&R Block. When Milt took retirement from his career at US West, they started an engineering and right-of-way company named NCCI and STCI. Charlene retired in 2007. She was active in the Inland Empire Model A Car Club where she served as the club historian and enjoyed many trips with Milt driving their 1929 Ford 4-door Murray. As members of the local Navy League, they traveled to Washington DC to visit the Pentagon. She also spent 7 years as a volunteer with SCAN (Spokane Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Center). She enthusiastically enjoyed sports, especially the Mariners, Seahawks, WSU Cougars, and Gonzaga basketball games. Charlene was an avid gardener. Most of all, Charlene enjoyed being with her 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and many friends. Her number one priority was sending her four children to college (WSU) and then attending as many of her grandchildren�s activities as possible. If there was a birthday or graduation, she was there. When the holidays came around, Charlene was an extraordinary and imaginative party planner ensuring that everyone had a magical time. Charlene is preceded in death by her husband Milton and her daughter Lori Griffith. She is survived by her son Mark Sannes (Sandi), of Spokane Valley, WA; two daughters, Diane Draper of Kennewick, WA, Jill Reckie (Stephan) of Loon Lake, WA; nine grandchildren, Jennifer Draper (Romain Chevallier), Reed Draper, Jack Draper, Leah Griffith, Ashley Ross, Garrett Ross, Stephanie Ross, Cameron Sannes and Marissa Sannes. She is survived by one sister, Phyllis Nodland of Spokane Valley, WA. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, October 13th, at 4:00 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N Government Way, with graveside services for immediate family prior to the service. Those who wish to send memorial flowers please do so through Evergreen Florists. � To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Charlene, please visit our Tree Store. Read more Events OCT 13 Memorial Service Thursday, October 13, 2022 4:00PM - 5:00PM Heritage Funeral & Cremation 508 North Government Way Spokane, WA 99224 Get Directions