Charles Cole

Cole, Charles 72, was born in Pontiac, MI, the son of Margaret and Raymond Cole, and the younger sibling of William Cole (JoAnn) of Traverse City and Barbara Kunse (Ronald) of Clare. He grew up in Waterford Township and attended schools there from Kindergarten through High School. Afterward, he earned three Educational Degrees from Michigan State University. His career in the Waterford School District included teaching three years of high school science, followed by twenty-nine years as a Secondary Administrator. Chuck was an avid sports enthusiast playing football, basketball and competing as a member of the track team, while attending Waterford Schools. As an M.S.U. Spartan, he was again a member of the track team and a loyal supporter of the football and basketball teams. Throughout his adult life, he continued to follow his alma mater's team sports. Recreationally, he played golf but his biggest joy came in skiing the slopes of Park City, UT. He also loved to travel the world. He leaves behind his wife of fifty years, Diane, his daughter, Lisa (Cole) Weber (Michael), and his son Chad Cole (Jennifer). Chuck was blessed to also know and love his five grandchildren: Owen, Anna and Isaac Weber, and Charles and Olivia Cole. All of the family resides in St. Joseph and each will greatly miss his warm smile and caring heart. Chuck battled Frontotemporal Degeneration, a rare form of dementia, with dignity and patience, for the past seven years. He lost that fight on April 28th. No one knows what causes this illness and his is the first known case in his family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the FTD Organization, with hopes that research will one day determine the cause and an ultimate cure so that other families will not have to lose a loved one to it. Contributions should note that they are "In Memory of Charles Cole." The address for a donation is: The AFTD, Radnor Station Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087. More information may be found on their website: www.theaftd.org. A "Celebration of Life" will be held at It's a Matter of Taste, 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, MI, on Saturday, May 12th. Friends are invited to visit with the family any time between 12-3 pm that afternoon.