Charles Edward Kaminski

Charles Edward Kaminski (Chuck) passed from this world peacefully on Sunday, February 27, 2022.  He was born on May 11, 1938, in Bowling Green, Ohio to Madeline and Edward Kaminski.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his treasured wife Esther, sister Toni (Jim) Searcy, and brother Edward (Sue) Kaminski.  He is survived by his daughters Anita Kaminski and Kathy (Bob) Pellegrini and son Jeff Stone, along with sisters Susan (Michael) Burch and Tami (Don) Getts.  He will also be greatly missed by his grandson Eric Arndt, and granddaughter Tiffany (Greg) Heim and great-grandchildren, Leah, Jonah, Reece and Maria, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Chuck moved with his family to Detroit as a young boy.  He grew up near Belle Isle and spent many early days playing there and swimming in the Detroit River with his neighborhood friends, many of whom he stayed in touch with throughout his life.  He forever loved his city.  He was a huge fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Motown music, especially the Temptations (his favorite song being “My Girl”). Chuck’s love of music prompted him to buy an RCA reel-to-reel tape recorder back in the ‘60’s so he could listen to his favorite songs endlessly.  He was also a huge Country music fan and loved his Outlaw Country station on the radio!

Chuck was a big enthusiast of old automobiles and often attended the local annual car shows – especially the Woodward Dream Cruise, where he and brother Ed would show Ed’s 1966 Plymouth Fury Sport.  His early pride and joy though was a bright red 1960 Chevy Impala convertible, complete with a suicide knob on the steering wheel and fins!  Much to one neighbor’s dismay, he and Ed converted it from an automatic transmission to a three-speed stick shift on the floor in front of the house as he didn’t have a garage.  He also rebuilt the engine of the family 1969 Pontiac Tempest to replace the cams. Even in his later years he worked on his riding lawn mower and kept it running.

Chuck loved to just get in the car and go for rides or go “bumming around” as he called it.  He often ended up at one of his favorite haunts or he would stop and visit someone.  He liked to golf, fish and hunt as a younger man.  Even though he loved his yard, he did not, however, like fighting the autumn leaves from the many beautiful trees that graced his home.

Chuck worked as a surface grinder (tool and die manufacturing) for many years – starting at General Broach & Engineering and ultimately retiring from Nachi Machining Technology Co.  It was said that Chuck’s expertise and meticulousness in his work was comparable to those with college degrees in Engineering.

Chuck was a man of great integrity – he was honest, kind, generous and a very loyal friend.  He was also incredibly funny.  Always with just a hint of sarcasm and a twinkle in his eye, one could not help but burst into a hearty laugh from one of his one-liners he so spontaneously came up with!

Chuck was a husband, a father, a brother, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend to so many. He held each of those titles with great pride.  He was “One of a kind!” and truly loved by so very many people.  His presence in this world will be deeply missed.

A private celebration of his life will be held at a future date.