Charles Victor Karczewski

Charles V. Karczewski, age 86, of Valrico, FL passed away on Monday, May 20, 2019. He was born January 1st, 1933 in Clintonville Wisconsin to parents Erwin and Julia. He was the second of 5 children, his older sister Joyce passed away in 1998 but her four children Robert, Allen, Douglas, and Gail are here today. He is survived by his younger brother Bill and younger sister Ruth. They will be attending a family service on June 8th in Chicago. Chuck grew up on the family farm in rural Wisconsin and graduated from Clintonville High School in 1951. He then joined the Army National Guard, the Red Arrow Division, in 1952 and when the family moved to Park Forest Illinois 1954 he transferred to the Illinois National Guard. He went active duty 1957 for two years and returned to the Chicago area in 1959. He started working at the A & P Bakery in Chicago where he met his wife of 54 years Alma Schaltenis. They were married in 1960 and then had their only child David in 1961. Chuck started working for Dow Chemical driving a truck in 1963 and his life was changed when he was hit by a train on September 24, 1964 which led to him being a paraplegic for the next 55 years. The family moved to Carbondale Illinois in 1967 where Chuck attended Southern Illinois University for 4 years and received a degree Industrial Technology. During summer vacations the family toured the country in their Airstream trailer. Once graduated, Chuck took a job with Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan; however, after visiting Florida one Christmas the family moved to Tampa Bay. Chuck soon became active with the Paralyzed Veterans of America in the Tampa Bay until he and Alma were coaxed into moving to Seattle where they lived from 1988 thru 2008. Skip will further expand on his PVA career in a moment. They returned Florida in 2008 to be closer to grandson Ryan, living retired couples life in Valrico. Alma passed away in 2014 and is now once again joined by her husband. Chuck never saw his injury as a handicap but instead a challenge. A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 pm, Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL. Visitation will be held one hour prior, from 11:00-12:00 pm at the funeral home. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Bay Pines National Cemetery, St Petersburg, FL. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Paralyzed Veteran's of America. https://pva.org/