Charlie was born in Pe Ell, Washington as the only child of two widowed Polish immigrants Bolleck Cerkanowicz and Valentena Hominski Piwoni. He did not learn to speak English until he was 6 years old. His mother Valentena died of cancer when he was only 12. His father was a logger and often had to live in a logging camp, and his brothers and sisters did the best they could raising him in poverty.
He graduated from PeEll High School on May 27, 1943 and immediately lied about his age and joined the Navy to serve in the war at age 17. He served from June 8, 1943 - December 13, 1945 on a small ship in WWII, the USS PC #1185, as a Radioman Second Class. He received the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
He married a total of 3 times. He and his first wife Barbara had no children. He and his second wife Peggy had two children, and he also parented two step children from her previous marriage. He married his 3rd wife in 1970 and had one daughter together, also taking on 3 more step children. He was considered a father to all 8 of them.
Charlie spent his life as a logger and millworker, just as his father had. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bred and trained his own hunting dogs. He participated in the World Horseshoe Championships with his son in the mid 1990's.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice, a grand-daughter Ember, and all but two siblings. He left behind 3 children, 5 step-children, and 16 grandchildren. He was a beloved friend to many.
He graduated from PeEll High School on May 27, 1943 and immediately lied about his age and joined the Navy to serve in the war at age 17. He served from June 8, 1943 - December 13, 1945 on a small ship in WWII, the USS PC #1185, as a Radioman Second Class. He received the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
He married a total of 3 times. He and his first wife Barbara had no children. He and his second wife Peggy had two children, and he also parented two step children from her previous marriage. He married his 3rd wife in 1970 and had one daughter together, also taking on 3 more step children. He was considered a father to all 8 of them.
Charlie spent his life as a logger and millworker, just as his father had. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bred and trained his own hunting dogs. He participated in the World Horseshoe Championships with his son in the mid 1990's.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice, a grand-daughter Ember, and all but two siblings. He left behind 3 children, 5 step-children, and 16 grandchildren. He was a beloved friend to many.
Charlie was born in Pe Ell, Washington as the only child of two widowed Polish immigrants Bolleck Cerkanowicz and Valentena Hominski Piwoni. He did not learn to speak English until he was 6 years old. His mother Valentena died of cancer when he was only 12. His father was a logger and often had to live in a logging camp, and his brothers and sisters did the best they could raising him in poverty.
He graduated from PeEll High School on May 27, 1943 and immediately lied about his age and joined the Navy to serve in the war at age 17. He served from June 8, 1943 - December 13, 1945 on a small ship in WWII, the USS PC #1185, as a Radioman Second Class. He received the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
He married a total of 3 times. He and his first wife Barbara had no children. He and his second wife Peggy had two children, and he also parented two step children from her previous marriage. He married his 3rd wife in 1970 and had one daughter together, also taking on 3 more step children. He was considered a father to all 8 of them.
Charlie spent his life as a logger and millworker, just as his father had. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bred and trained his own hunting dogs. He participated in the World Horseshoe Championships with his son in the mid 1990's.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice, a grand-daughter Ember, and all but two siblings. He left behind 3 children, 5 step-children, and 16 grandchildren. He was a beloved friend to many.
He graduated from PeEll High School on May 27, 1943 and immediately lied about his age and joined the Navy to serve in the war at age 17. He served from June 8, 1943 - December 13, 1945 on a small ship in WWII, the USS PC #1185, as a Radioman Second Class. He received the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
He married a total of 3 times. He and his first wife Barbara had no children. He and his second wife Peggy had two children, and he also parented two step children from her previous marriage. He married his 3rd wife in 1970 and had one daughter together, also taking on 3 more step children. He was considered a father to all 8 of them.
Charlie spent his life as a logger and millworker, just as his father had. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bred and trained his own hunting dogs. He participated in the World Horseshoe Championships with his son in the mid 1990's.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice, a grand-daughter Ember, and all but two siblings. He left behind 3 children, 5 step-children, and 16 grandchildren. He was a beloved friend to many.
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