Charles “Charlie” Soren Iversen, Past Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia (1990), ascended to the Celestial Lodge above January 27th, 2018, he was 97-years-old.
A near-lifelong resident of the District Metro Area and a dedicated Freemason, Most Worshipful Brother Iversen will be dearly missed by his family and innumerable friends and brothers.
Charlie was born on December 9, 1920, in Cheshire, Massachusetts. His family moved to Washington DC in 1930 where he enrolled in H.D. Cooke Elementary on 17th Street, NW. After graduating Central High School in 1940, Charlie enrolled in Princeton University, where he graduated in 1943.
Later in 1943, after marrying his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Jeannette DeSale, and enlisting in the Army, Charlie was commissioned as an Field Artillery Officer in the US Army. That same year, he joined the Military Intelligence Service and was shipped to London, England for the start of World War II. He landed on Utah Beach, Normandy with the Army’s 5th Infantry Division in June of 1944, and earned five Battle Stars for his service in the war.
After the war, he remained with Military Intelligence and was assigned as an interpreter to a War Crimes Investigation Team in Bavaria where he investigated murders committed by enemy combatants and civilians during the war.
Charlie returned to the United States in November 1945, and while in reserve, attained a Juris Doctorate and an L.L.B. from Georgetown University. He served as a Judge Advocate until 1950, when he resigned his commission and moved into private practice.
Brother Iversen was raised a Master Mason in Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 in Georgetown, on November 29, 1948, and served as Master of that Lodge in 1969. Most Worshipful Brother Iversen was elected and installed as the 146th Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia in December of 1990 and served his one-year term with great honor. In 1998, he was awarded the Valentine Reintzel Medal for Meritorious Service to the Grand Lodge. And in 2001, a window at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA was dedicated to him. He received his 50 Year membership lapel pin in 1998, 60 Year membership lapel pin in 2008 and 70 Year membership lapel pin this year.
Most Worshipful Brother Iversen was a member and leader of dozens of other Masonic organizations and bodies, including the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, Royal Order of Scotland, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Grotto and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also an active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rotary International and several clubs in the DC area. He traveled the world as a leader in many of these organizations and touched the lives of countless men and women with his generosity, keen intelligence and sharp wit.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Eleanor in 2015. He is survived by his daughter, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He will be forever loved and missed in the fraternity of Freemasons for his singular dedication and wise leadership. Most importantly, though, was his mentorship of countless young Masons that he encountered over his many years of service to the Craft.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Charles S. Iversen's name to the Masonic Foundation of DC. http://www.dcmasonicfoundation.org/
A near-lifelong resident of the District Metro Area and a dedicated Freemason, Most Worshipful Brother Iversen will be dearly missed by his family and innumerable friends and brothers.
Charlie was born on December 9, 1920, in Cheshire, Massachusetts. His family moved to Washington DC in 1930 where he enrolled in H.D. Cooke Elementary on 17th Street, NW. After graduating Central High School in 1940, Charlie enrolled in Princeton University, where he graduated in 1943.
Later in 1943, after marrying his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Jeannette DeSale, and enlisting in the Army, Charlie was commissioned as an Field Artillery Officer in the US Army. That same year, he joined the Military Intelligence Service and was shipped to London, England for the start of World War II. He landed on Utah Beach, Normandy with the Army’s 5th Infantry Division in June of 1944, and earned five Battle Stars for his service in the war.
After the war, he remained with Military Intelligence and was assigned as an interpreter to a War Crimes Investigation Team in Bavaria where he investigated murders committed by enemy combatants and civilians during the war.
Charlie returned to the United States in November 1945, and while in reserve, attained a Juris Doctorate and an L.L.B. from Georgetown University. He served as a Judge Advocate until 1950, when he resigned his commission and moved into private practice.
Brother Iversen was raised a Master Mason in Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 in Georgetown, on November 29, 1948, and served as Master of that Lodge in 1969. Most Worshipful Brother Iversen was elected and installed as the 146th Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia in December of 1990 and served his one-year term with great honor. In 1998, he was awarded the Valentine Reintzel Medal for Meritorious Service to the Grand Lodge. And in 2001, a window at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA was dedicated to him. He received his 50 Year membership lapel pin in 1998, 60 Year membership lapel pin in 2008 and 70 Year membership lapel pin this year.
Most Worshipful Brother Iversen was a member and leader of dozens of other Masonic organizations and bodies, including the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, Royal Order of Scotland, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Grotto and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also an active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rotary International and several clubs in the DC area. He traveled the world as a leader in many of these organizations and touched the lives of countless men and women with his generosity, keen intelligence and sharp wit.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Eleanor in 2015. He is survived by his daughter, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He will be forever loved and missed in the fraternity of Freemasons for his singular dedication and wise leadership. Most importantly, though, was his mentorship of countless young Masons that he encountered over his many years of service to the Craft.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Charles S. Iversen's name to the Masonic Foundation of DC. http://www.dcmasonicfoundation.org/
RSS Feed