Obituary of Charles V. Sztaba

It is with great sadness that the family of Charles Victor Sztaba announce his unexpected passing on November 29, 2024.  Born on August 19, 1944, he was the son of the late Victor and Marie Sztaba.  

Charlie grew up in Darien on his family's farm with his beloved siblings.  Always full of energy and mischievous ideas, he surely kept his parents on their toes. He graduated from Corfu Central High School in 1962.  Charlie served in the United States Army and was stationed in Colorado Springs.  After the Army, he began his early career with a tool and die apprenticeship at Doehler-Jarvis.  Shortly after starting a family, Charlie began working as a tool and die maker at Eastman Kodak.  He worked at Kodak for 29 years and retired in 2001. Charlie was also a member of the Sackett Merrill White American Legion, Post 575 for 43 years, over the years tackling many different duties.

On July 20th 1991, Charlie was united in marriage to Susan, together they shared a union of soulmates and began their wild journey through life. Sharing 33 years of marriage, there was never a dull day with Charlie. He lived faithfully by the term ¨Happy Wife, Happy Life¨, not because he had to, but because he passionately adored his wife. Charlie deeply loved Susan and they shared a life filled with laughter and unwavering love. True, Charlie would often devise little playful plans to rib Susan or poke fun of her just to keep her alert.  Together they created a blended family, and shared many adventures together. After retirement, Charlie and Susan set out to travel the United States together, immersing themselves in the history and the natural beauty of what their destinations had to offer.  Their life together was filled with adventure, family, and friends.  Theirs was a great love story that will continue together again someday.

After traveling with their RV across the country, they decided to set roots down.  During the winter months, Charlie and Susan were snowbirds that migrated south, residing in Paradise Oaks RV Resort.  In the summer months, Susan and Charlie would return to their family up north, and settled in at Southwoods RV Resort.  Both Susan and Charlie, built lasting relationships with friends that turned into family. In Florida, Charlie could be found making a stop at Buddy's Tavern in Bushnell, Fl.  It was his go to spot to enjoy a beer with many friends over the years.  He was also met with great joy and triumph when he achieved a hole-in-one at Point O Woods Golf Course. Every summer was met with extraordinary family camping ventures and seeing old friends at the park.  Charlie was always game to have some fun whether that meant playing card games, ladder golf, or a competitive game of cornhole.  He was also a self-proclaimed irrigation specialist and enjoyed helping Susan with the flowers at camp.  

Over the years, Charlie developed a love for all things planes, trains, and automobiles and not to be forgotten, tractors. One of his favorite pastimes was spending time with his best friend and brother, Rich.  Together, they spent countless hours at car shows and cruising in Rich´s 1955 Chevy Bel Air, reminiscing about the good ole days. Some of those good ole days consisted of the plethora of stories he would share about the days on the farm. Boy did he have some stories to share! Charlie´s love of that stunning bright red Farmall tractor was born during those farm days. Charlie was also fortunate to take a ride on the Historic Steam Locomotive Nickel Plate No. 765, where he and Susan were the last to make the journey aboard that train as it crossed over the old Letchworth State Park train trestle.  He also recently experienced an amazing opportunity of a lifetime, taking flight for a ride on the historic C47, Whiskey 7.  However, one of his most beloved experiences was co-piloting a Bell Jet Ranger 206B-3 helicopter to bring his daughter to her grand entrance at her wedding.

His greatest adventure was life and sharing it with Susan and his children. The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Charlie.  He loved sitting around the campfire with friends and family, drinking a beer while sharing stories and laughs from the past.  You could often catch a glimpse of Charlie driving through the park on his golf cart with his trusted camp companions, his grand dogs.   He enjoyed a nice leisure stroll through the woods with his family and of course his summertime dogs.  He loved the peace and quiet of nature.  His children share the fondest of memories of the days at Black Lake where they went out for early morning fishing excursions with their dad and grandfather.  He eagerly rejoiced at watching his children fish and their excitement when they caught something, carefully retrieving the fish from the hook. Playing soccer and kickball in the backyard, cheering on his grandchildren, retrieving pumpkins on the annual fall excursion, Easter egg hunts, washing cars, and going for walks were just a few of the simple activities that brought joy to his children and grandchildren.  In more recent years, Charlie had the pleasure of sharing his love of his Polish roots with his family.  They could be found enjoying some great Polish cuisine together, dancing to a good polka, enjoying a good Tyskie beer, and watching Charlie marching backwards in the Dyngus Day Parade.  Charlie loved his family fiercely and was endlessly proud of both his children and grandchildren.  He was often overheard expressing how his family all worked hard and loved hard. Charlie was blessed to share many amazing adventures with family. 

Charlie had an impeccable sense of humor and was always primed and ready to participate in any shenanigans.  Anyone that was lucky enough to cross paths with Charlie was captivated by his smile, laughter, and sense of humor. Charlie had a way about him in that he always made everyone around him laugh and smile.  Charlie was renowned for his special gift of sarcasm and his humor extraordinaire.  Luckily, for his children´s sake, he has gifted those traits and passed them along to his children. Charlie may have had some of the best one-liners and most talented roasting abilities known to man. 

Charlie was a soul that eagerly walked beside you through every joy and heartbreak.  His mere presence could give you a sense of peace, love, and laughter amidst a brewing storm.  Charlie's passing proves that while life can be so cruel, it can also be so wonderful. For Charlie, has left behind a lifetime of memories, living life to his fullest, and savoring every precious moment.  We are reminded of the gifts he gave us; his shenanigans, his jokes, his boundless enthusiasm for life, his infinite love, and his laughter. 

Charlie was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Susan and loving father to his adored children that he thought the world of: James (Sue) Staba; Roxanne Coleman; Melissa (Randal) Staba-Busch; Susie (Mark) Ott; Dean (Dwayna) Boyce; eleven cherished grandchildren: Courtney (Eric) Hyde; Jamie (Spencer) Thomas; Tyler (Theresa) Murtha; Zander Staba; Kyle ( Becca) Coleman; Rayleigh (Joe) Staba; Caleb Busch; Riley Boyce; Kaylee Boyce; Hollie King; and Danny Harris.  Charlie also leaves behind his treasured brother and sister, Richard (Linda) Staba and Mary Ann (Dave) Buelow; loved sisters-in-law and brothers-in law, Gary Tripp; Jack (Sue) Ioannone; Frank Yacono; Charlene Yacono; Theresa (John) Banker, and many loved nieces and nephews.  Charlie leaves behind numerous extended family and close friends that he considered to be like family.  He was predeceased by his son, Matthew Charles Sztaba; son-in-law, Peter Coleman; sister, Jeanne Tripp; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sharon (James) Messick.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 28th at 11:00 A.M. at  Our Lady of Mercy Parish, St. Peter's Church, 44 Lake St., LeRoy.  The family asks that you join them afterwards for a celebration of Charlie´s amazing life at the LeRoy American Legion, 53 West Main St, LeRoy. A Military Funeral Honors Ceremony and Interment will be held on Monday, December 30th at 11:00 A.M. at Western New York National Cemetery, 1254 Indian Falls Rd., Corfu.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to The Gary Sinise Foundation or The American Heart Association.