Obituaries

CHARLES “CHUCK” KATKO, age 93, passed away on February 11, 2019 at Royal Oak Beaumont, surrounded by his beloved family and caregivers.

Charles was born to the late Julia and Stephen Katko in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on January 5, 1926. The youngest of five children, Chuck grew up in New Jersey and later attended the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering in 1947. He began his career with General Motors, rapidly moving through positions of increasing leadership responsibility in multiple manufacturing sites, starting in Linden, New Jersey, then moving to other manufacturing locations in California, Texas, Kansas and Michigan. Chuck was chosen by General Motors to attend Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program and upon his completion of this program was promoted to General Manager and Vice President of the GMAD (General Motors Assembly Division) followed by a move to General Manager and Vice President of the Fisher Body Division. Chuck was again promoted to Group Executive of GMAD and Fisher Body Divisions of General Motors and worked with GM’s top leadership to consolidate those divisions and later moved on to the position of Group Executive and Vice President of the GM Truck and Bus Division in 1984. In 1991, after 48 distinguished years of service with General Motors, Chuck retired from General Motors as the Group Executive and Vice President, Corporate Staffs Group, which included GM’s legal, marketing, sales, personnel, labor and purchasing staffs.

In addition to his impressive career, Chuck cherished activities with his family, including extensive global travel; hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren; and boating and golfing with friends and family near his homes in Charlevoix, Michigan and Boca Raton, Florida. He was an accomplished cook who took great pleasure in recreating dishes learned from his Hungarian mother as well as his own culinary improvisations. Chuck was a fitness buff, exercising daily well into his 80’s. He enjoyed collecting items during his world travels, including fine wines, porcelain and crystal figurines, gems and art objects from local craftsmen. As the family patriarch, Chuck was their beloved pillar of wisdom, support and love. He will be deeply missed by all.

Chuck was predeceased by his devoted wife of 68 years, Emma (Valeriani) Katko, who passed away in January 2018. He is also predeceased by his siblings William Katko, Louis Katko, Irene Medwick and John Katko. He is survived by his children, Charles Katko, Jr., Maryann Hergt (John), Richard Katko (Molly), and by his grandchildren, Kelly Ann Katko, Brian Charles Hergt, Richard Charles Katko and Kevin Patrick Katko, as well as multiple nieces, nephews and cousins. Chuck’s family would like to thank his caregiver, Ala Hogan, for her invaluable care of both of their parents over the past several years. They would also like to thank the staff of Cedarbrook, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, for their care and support over the past 3 years.

The Funeral Service will be on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 2 p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Rd. (between Maple and Big Beaver), 248-362-2500. Family will receive friends Friday 3-8 p.m.

~Lovingly Submitted by the Family~