Obituary: Charlotte Polo

Charlotte L. "Grandma" Polo, 103, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Aug. 31, 2024, at the home of granddaughter Krissy, with whom she lived. Char was born to Richard and Hilda (Niemela) Larson on Aug. 10, 1921, in Crosby, Minnesota.

Char, then an infant, and her parents moved to Cloquet, where her father and grandfather opened a butcher shop. She attended Cloquet High School. After graduation, Char attended the Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago. After completing her studies, she returned to Minnesota to work as a registered nurse for Dr. Roland Nutting in Duluth.

During this time, she met and married her husband, George Polo of Esko, who was part-owner of the Rendezvous bar at the time. Char and George later opened Polo Liquor in 1947. A few years later, George started the paving company Northwest Blacktop.

Char ran the liquor store and attended to the administrative duties of the blacktop business. Finally, after running two businesses for 65 years, Char got to retire at the ripe young age of 91 in 2012.

Char's hobbies included sewing, ice fishing and going to craft sales, and she had a love of shopping.

Char was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Scanlon.

She was known to be a tough cookie, but really had a heart of gold. The liquor store served as a local meeting place for her friends, neighbors, family and customers, and there was always a pot of hot coffee and pastries from her favorite local bakery. The secret to her longevity was her love of dark chocolate. Some of her friends called her "Chocolate" rather than "Charlotte."

Char donated to every local cause and charity when asked. In 2006, she and her best friend, Joanne, took a well-deserved trip to Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden to meet some of her relatives and to tour.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George, in 1993; her two brothers, Irvin and Kenneth (Bud) Larson; and her only son, Ricky. She is survived by her grandson, Greg (Bonnie) Polo; her two granddaughters, Jodi (Tom Romundstad) Polo and Krissy (Tim) Billiot; granddaughter-in-law, Jeri Polo; four great-grandchildren, Kinsey Polo, Travis (Pamela) Polo, Aaron Billiot and Gage Billiot; and two great-great-grandchildren, Kaden Ermatinger and Colton Polo.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Saturday, Sept 7 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Lunch will follow in the fellowship room. Inurnment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery on Big Lake Road in Cloquet.

Pine Knot News, Sept. 6, 2024