Charlie Kourajian was born in Jamestown, ND, on November 15, 1930. He was the fourth of nine children of Vahan and Sarah Kourajian, both Armenian immigrants to the United States from Turkey. His father was a section laborer for the then Northern Pacific Railroad. His mother, along with his father, provided a loving and nurturing home to Charlie and his 8 brothers and sisters.
At the early age of 11, Charlie was delivering The Trading Post, a local weekly free sheet. In 1941, he started delivering The Jamestown Sun and in 1944 got a part-time job at The Sun in the mail room. While in high school, and in the years following his high school graduation in 1948, he learned the printing and newspaper trade. He served in the United States Army in the mid-1950s and returned to Jamestown where he started his full-time employment with the Jamestown Sun. He was named production manager in the late 1960s and continued in that capacity until 1989, when he left the newspaper after an association of over 45 years. He loved the newspaper business and seldom took vacations or days off.
He joined Don Wilhelm, Inc. as a salesman in 1989 and retired in 1992. He worked part-time as a bus driver for James River Transit in 1995-96. He was a part-time ambassador for the Jamestown Main Street Downtown Association.
He was an active member of the Basilica of St. James, serving on the Finance Board for several years and participated in many church sponsored functions. He was one of the first Eucharistic Ministers, appointed at St. James in1974. He served in that capacity as well as a proclaimer at Masses until 1993. He was co-chairman of the Restoration Committee in 1993 and also co-chairman of the Shepherd’s Care Fund Drive for Elderly Priests in1996. He was a charter member of the FACE Foundation of St. John’s Academy and a member of the Calvary Cemetery Board.
Charlie’s service to the city of Jamestown spanned more than 40 years. In 1974, he was elected to the Jamestown City Council, and then he served as Mayor from 1997-2006.
As an elected official, he served on numerous government committees in Jamestown, including the Law Enforcement Center Governing Board, Stutsman County Weed Board, James River Senior Citizens Board, Alfred Dickey Public Library Board, the Alfred Dickey Library Foundation, City Pension Committee, City-County Road Committee, Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation Board, and the South Central Dakota Regional Council. He was also very active in the community, having served on the United Way Board, Frontier Village Board, St. John’s Academy Athletic Board, Jamestown Asset Builders Steering Committee and for a number of years, a regular Sunday visitor to the home bound and to residents at Hi-Acres Manor. He was very active in the Knights of Columbus and was a past Grand Knight, a past Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree Knights, a past KC Building Association President, and a past Financial Secretary of KC Council 1883.
For several years, he helped transport children from the Anne Carlsen School to Mass on Sundays. He was also a member of BPO Elks, Eagles, National Buffalo Foundation, the Art Center, United Sportsmen, Jimmie Boosters, and was past commander of the American Legion Post 14.
In 1955, Charlie married Marcy Skroch at St. James Catholic Church in Jamestown. Marcy died in 1992. In 1993, he married Margaret (Cebula) Falk in Jamestown. They just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on April 30 of this year.
He enjoyed his life by doing things for people and often went out of his way to help people in need. He worked at the Stutsman County Museum and volunteered at the Reycling Center. He was also instrumental in establishing a bus depot back in Jamestown. He often could be seen early in the morning watering flowers across the city, in an effort to make Jamestown a beautiful place to raise a family. His passion for the city of Jamestown was unmatched by anyone. He also enjoyed organizing parades and hanging Christmas lights in the city. He loved his family, church, his work, and Jamestown.
He is survived by his wife, Marge, and four children: Barb (Bud Fisher) Kourajian, Brooksville ME; Steven, Harvey, ND; Kevin (Peggy), Sartell, MN and Beth (Kyle) DuFault, Fargo, ND. and 12 grandchildren, two step-children, Dave (Fay) Falk, Jamestown and Janet Falk, Fargo, ND, and two step-grandsons and 4 step-great-grandchildren. Seven brothers and sisters: Mary Werner, Jamestown: Helen (Robert) Peterson, St. Paul, MN; John (Myrna) Kourajian, Waite Park, MN: Thomas (Bonnie) Kourajian, Prior Lake, MN: Arthur Kourajian, St. Paul, MN and Dorothy (Dave) Pokorny, Dickinson, ND.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Marcy, his brother, Casper, and a sister Virginia.
Vigil service will be 7:30 PM, Tuesday, May 22 at St. James Basilica, Jamestown, ND.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 AM, Wednesday, May 23 at St. James Basilica. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Jamestown, ND. Funeral arrangements are being handled with Williams Funeral Home.