Obituary of Charles Yakubik

Charles F. Yakubik, 96, passed away Jan. 3, 2007, in Akron. Charles was born Jan. 20, 1910, in Glitzen, PA. His family later moved to Akron. A self-taught engineer, architect and craftsman, Charles was an accomplished builder and designer. He built his own home on Portage Lakes and a summer home in Canada, and blended his love of adventure and the outdoors into several successful careers. In the 1930s, Charles had his own body shop where he built delivery vehicles, motorcycles and boats, which he also raced. He eventually started a family boat building business, where he crafted handmade canoes, wooden runabouts and hydroplanes, and even served as engine builder for Band Leader Guy Lombardo, during his own stint in boat racing. Charles worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber during World War II, deferred from active duty so that he could travel the country to teach tool and die making. He later worked for Morse Instruments in Hudson, developing cameras for bomb sites for Eastman Kodak. After the war, Charles formed a construction company, which was responsible for building a number of homes in Hudson and Fairlawn. Charles was well into his 70s when Chrysler Motors commissioned him for tool and die development of a Chrysler transmission. A few years later, Massey Ferguson hired Charles to help the company set up its entire tool and repair shop. A devoted parishioner at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Charles' handiwork can be seen in the church's hand-forged solid bronze doors and other design elements. Charles is survived by his daughter Mary Elizabeth Antenora and son Charles M. Yakubik, along with 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, all of whom benefited from his brilliant talents, generous heart and passion for life. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2-4 PM at Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Funeral Home, 95 W. Waterloo Rd., Akron. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in Charles' memory may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. (Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz, 724-1281, www.kakfh.com) AN ANTHONY FUNERAL HOME