Foriska

Charles Edward Foriska, aka “Chuck,” “Poppa,” “Big Pop” and “Dad,” born Oct. 31, 1939, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 1926.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Frances Foriska, and his grandson, Dustin Michael Foriska.

He is survived by wife, Norma Jean Foriska; son, Michael J. Foriska, and his wife, Patricia J. Foriska, and son, Daniel C. Foriska, and his wife, Brenda Foriska, all of Sweetwater, Tenn. Also surviving are granddaughter, Kristen Dawn Wallin, of Petros, Tenn.; grandson, Daniel Ryan Foriska, of Lincolnton, N.C.; along with five great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, all living in Tennessee and North Carolina.

As the only child of Edward and Frances Foriska, living in rural Western Pennsylvania and both parents working post-Great Depression, he learned at a very young age the importance of hard work, being self-sufficient and that education was his future. By age 12, he was a skilled hunter (reloading shot), fisherman (making flies and wood cranks baits) and trapper (selling pelts). At age 15, he got his first taxable income job for Marburger Dairy Farm. He would go into work at 4 a.m. and was the runner for the delivery truck. He would carry the milk, butter and cheese to front porches and bring the empties back to the truck. He would then get home in time to get ready and go to school.

Heading into junior and senior high school, he found his competitive nature pushed him to excel in baseball, basketball and football. He graduated from Evans City High School at 17, and earned a college football scholarship to the University of Maryland. He continued his education at Memphis State University in the ‘70s. He was skilled at residential and industrial drafting and design, industrial engineering, business management, organic chemistry and team building, specializing in sales and marketing. He was an expert at building a team at all levels of a business and helping them all grow and become successful.

Most of his career was with Halstead Industries, with multiple new manufacturing plant startups specializing in copper tubing and closed-cell sponge rubber in several different states. His last new startup, in 2003, was the Aeroflex manufacturing and distribution in Sweetwater, Tenn. Work was not work to Charles. It was fun for him and he enjoyed it till age 76. He was on several boards of directors.

Charles met the love of his life in the summer of 1958. They met at the Hot Dog Shop in Butler, where Norma recognized his last name because she worked with his mother at the kitchen factory. They got married on Aug. 12, 1960. It was a marriage of 66 years of love, life and laughter. They traveled and experienced the world together. He woke up every day with the goal to make Norma smile and glow with love and happiness. Both were active in their Presbyterian churches in the city they were living in at the time.

For his boys, he was their Cub Scout leader, kept them active in the Presbyterian church, coached their Little League Baseball teams and spent endless hours playing catch and practicing golf in the church fields. He instilled the importance of honesty, integrity and to live by the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” To learn from your mistakes and never forget that life is short. Life is hard, don’t make it harder, make it fun. He was the best Dad any boy could ask for. He often spoke of the Foriska namesake and just how few there were left in the world, 138 at last count. Be proud of who you are and your heritage. Now there are 137 left.

When not working, Charles enjoyed cooking for his wife, friends and family; and enjoyed fine dining, travel and lots of golf with his buddies in Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee; and his boys. He shot his age or better more times than he could count, starting at age 69. He loved Christmas and wrapping gifts. He would wrap gifts for all the neighbors if they would let him. He would have been Santa’s best elf. He was a child of God and was very generous to and for others. He was loved and adored by many and will be greatly missed.

The service announcement is pending and will be posted at a later date by Kyker Funeral Home, Sweetwater.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.