"I Had A Good Time" Obituary of Charles Zatsick

“I had a good time”
In loving memory of Charles Henry Zatsick
Brother and friend
August 17, 1937-October 2, 2011

Charles (Chuck) was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 17, 1937. He was the eldest of the seven children of Catherine and Joseph Zatsick of Southfield, Michigan.

Chuck graduated from Southfield High School in 1955 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.

A keen student, Chuck was a member of the McNair Honor Roll Society while at Michigan Tech. Chuck loved hockey and traveled with Tech’s hockey team to report on their accomplishments. After graduation, Chuck moved to Marietta, Georgia, to begin what would be a 30 year career with Lockheed Aircraft as a technical writer.

Chuck enjoyed the warm weather of the south and took quickly to life there. A stamp lover like his dad, Chuck was a member of the Cobb County Stamp Club, and a charter member of the Cobb Photographic Society. Chuck was fascinated with space exploration and made numerous trips with family members to Cape Canaveral to view launches. His enthusiasm and his laugh were contagious. He loved sports, cooking, and telling stories.

Chuck was a devout Catholic, actively involved in the community of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cartersville, Georgia. At St. Francis Chuck became ‘Charlie’ and served as a lector at the Sunday Liturgies. The last few years he came each Monday morning to help count the collection. He was very well liked.

Charlie is survived by his siblings: Katy Zatsick, Connie Zatsick, John Zatsick, Judy Zatsick and Tina Dunn, plus a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The burial service will take place at Sunset Memory Gardens at on Friday, October 14, at 2 p.m. The cemetery is located at 790 Indian Mound Road, S.E., Cartersville, GA 30120, 770-382-2735. A memorial mass will be held for family and friends at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cartersville on Friday, October 14 at 6 p.m. Friends and family will begin gathering at 5:15 p.m. The parish will host a dinner for guests afterwards in the church hall.

Donations in remembrance of Charlie are welcome to support the St. Francis of Assisi Church Building Fund: St. Francis of Assisi Church, 850 Douthit Ferry Rd., Cartersville, GA, 30120.

(Written by Judy Zatsick, thanks Judy.)
"I had a good time" is what Chuckie requested be placed on his tombstone. So that was ordered. Because Chuck was found about a week after his heart attack, his body had to be cremated. So the burial took place on a beautiful fall day-blue sky, sunny and about 70 degrees.

The service included songs by the parish choir of lovely voices. Songs included "Here I am Lord" and "On Eagle's Wings" A dinner was served after-a wide selection of food buffet from the parishioners with more shared memories. Many of the men and women called Chuck a "kind character" and more than a few had tears in their eyes when they shared their stories and relationships with him. A friend Tom and Chuckie talked every day over the phone for the last ten years. Who else can say that? I can't.

Even though Chuck moved to GA in the 1960's and we only saw him at the holidays thereafter, my oldest brother has a special place in my heart. I am so sorry that his lifestyle did not permit him to live longer and enjoy life as he did when younger with travel and membership in his stamp and photography clubs. Rest in Peace Chuckie.

God's Grace or "Chuckie are you helping out your younger sister?"

This is a remarkable Monday for two reasons:

1. I woke up thinking, "How am I going to get the "pile of stamps" left by Chuck to our nephew Dan?" I did not have a box large enough for the albums, shoe box full, the odd envelopes of stamps that we found in our "tour de treasure hunt" at Chuck's home the Sat after his funeral. Well, ring, ring goes the door bell and the mail lady is delivering a package that contains my healthy pillow I used and left in Cartersville after the memorial service. By God's grace, the box was a perfect fit with not a square inch left over to mail the stamp collection to Dan. Mission Accomplished!

2. I had cut out a Walgreen coupon to "buy one get one free" for up to 3 free rolls of packing tape for my potential move in January. Yesterday I could not find the tape. Today I went back, no tape. I thought I should ask as the snow birds are arriving and I was wondering if the store would get more tape this week or should I get a rain check.

The cashier asked another to "check the stock in the back" She came back, sorry no stock but a much larger role of tape in her hand. "I don't think that counts for the coupon," I replied. "I will go check with the supervisor" as there is no other tape in the back, and no shipment till next Monday (when the coupon would be expired). She comes back with the tape "It is a much larger role so if you buy one, you can only get 1 free, not like the coupon that said 3/3"

I was a very happy camper as this role really is much larger and I hope between the two of them, I will get all the boxes taped and ready to make their move 1/2 block down the street to #8 in January!

So my conclusion this week before All Saints "Chuck is working overtime to pay me back for all I am doing in closing out his estate!" I really do believe our saints are active in our lives if we choose to ask them for help.

I remember all the stories Chuck would tell Joe and I as we slept in the same room. He would tell them before we went to sleep. Both my brothers would make some bet with me that I would loose so I would be the one to have to get out of bed to turn out the light. We slept in the same room until I was about 12 years of age. My dad added an addition then because my three youngest siblings were being born, one a year.

Rest in Peace Chuckie but keep working on my behalf!