Charles 'Chuck' Gavan

He joins his loving wife in the presence of the Lord who died on August 15, 2016. He was also predeceased by his son Tom, his brother Robert Gavan and his great grandson Jonah Anspach. He is survived by his other six children: Charles P. “Chuck” Gavan, Mary Gavan, Bill Gavan (Elizabeth), Anne Gavan (Michael), Mark Gavan (Margaret) and Paula Gullick (David) and his son Tom’s surviving wife Jessie Gavan. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

Chuck was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 1, 1922 to Elizabeth and Leo Gavan. He attended Epiphany Catholic Grade School, Tappan Intermediate School, and Mackenzie High School in Detroit. Some things he had to learn the hard way, like in the fourth grade when he shoved a burning stick into the gas tank of an abandoned car which caused him serious burns and kept him out of school for 8 months. He credited that experience with becoming an altar boy and a better student. After graduating high school in 1941, he went to college part time at the University of Detroit and worked for Ex-Cell-O Corp which was the beginning of a life-long career in the aerospace industry. When WWII broke out, he joined the Navy Air Corp. But before he reported for duty, he went on a cross-country driving trip to California with his friend Bill Hamiel. The most memorable part of that trip for him was Arizona, where he made stops in the Phoenix and the Grand Canyon and fell in love with the State. After their road trip, he reported to the Navy in June 1942 and was honorably discharged early in 1943 due to complications from his asthma. After his discharge, he went to work for General Motors Diesel in Detroit. He met his wife Gerry in 1944 at his parents’ small Inn in Traverse City. They were married in 1945 and raised their children in Grand Rapids until moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 1962. Chuck’s aerospace career included King Seeley Corp and Lear Instruments in Grand Rapids and Goodyear Aerospace and Universal Propulsion in Phoenix.

Chuck loved traveling, fishing and watching movies. After retirement, he and his wife travelled all over the world, but their favorite destination was always Alaska. He belonged to SS. Simon & Jude Cathedral Parish for 60 years and was a very active volunteer in the Cathedral’s St Vincent DePaul Pantry. He was a loving husband and a wonderful father and grandfather.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am, June 13, 2023 at SS. Simon & Jude Cathedral, 6351 North 27th Avenue. Burial will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th Street in Phoenix. Memorial donations to St. Vincent DePaul Society would be preferred in lieu of flowers.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ALMoore-Grimshaw.com for the Gavan family.