Charles Kolasinski

Charles Kolasinski

Sunderland, MA - Charles Eugene Kolasinski (93), also known as "Slim," "Bud," "Charlie," "Dad," and "Grampy" passed away Saturday, January 13, 2024, surrounded by family, following several years of unstable health. He was born in Leverett, MA, on January 2, 1931, to Charles John and Margaret Eleanor (Battistoni) Kolasinski. He was educated in Amherst Regional schools and excelled at playing and coaching baseball for a town league. Charlie enlisted in the US Navy in 1949 to participate in a special program to train servicemen in battleship operations and national defense readiness. He served as Signalman aboard the USS Rochester for two years at sea, followed by a six-year term of reserve re-call. Charlie married Shirley Mae Jacque in November 1951. Together they had three daughters: Jean Meimerstorf (Glen), Laura Howard Devine (Bob), and Marsha Howe (Randy); three granddaughters: Carrie Howard, Lindsay Brown (Dale) and Kristi Glenn (Justin); and three great-grandchildren: Zachary and Laura Brown, and John Glenn.

As a young man, Charlie was tall, strong and fit. He worked with his father, grandfather and uncles in the woods and on their farms just to help out. He was employed full-time by the Canadian National/Central Vermont Railroad as foreman in the track maintenance division for over 40 years, retiring in 1993. His work ethic at a time when the labor was performed manually was distinctive. He often said "do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay" which was a principle that took its toll on his body in later years. Charlie was a man of few words but the ones he used spoke volumes. He led a happy, quiet modest life dedicated to family and would drop what he was doing just to listen. In addition to being able to fix almost anything, he liked to build bird and duck houses drawn from his own custom designs. He was an avid outdoor sportsman who enjoyed skeet/trap shooting, hunting, fishing and trapping with his core group of friends. Their adventures took them to all sorts of rustic remote places throughout the Northeast.

Charlie's wife passed September 3, 2012. He was also predeceased by his parents, sisters Eleanor Rytuba and Marion Leonard, and best-friend-forever Lester Cunningham. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Cunningham of Amherst and family members listed above.

Charlie's family would like to thank the clinical teams and doctors at Baystate Franklin Medical Center Emergency and Medical/Surgical/Telemetry Departments, Charlene Manor and Pioneer Valley Hospice for their skilled and compassionate care. Wrisley Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements which include cremation. Services will be announced and held at a later date. Charlie would want contributions in his memory directed to others who live life on the right side of the law, show determination in all that they do, but just need a little help to get through a temporary rough spot.