Charles (Charlie) E. Sarka, 74, of Seminole, Florida passed away on March 5, 2021. Born in Williamson, WV, he moved to Pinellas Park, Florida in 1962. He graduated from Dixie Hollins High School and received an Associate of Arts degree from St Petersburg Junior College.
Charlie served four years in the United States Marine Corp, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. He earned the National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, and Good Combat medals, and Badges of Rifle Sharpshooter and Pistol Sharpshooter. He honored other fallen veterans by attending their funerals and speaking to their grieving families.
Retired after 40 years with the United States Postal Service, Charlie was an award-winning runner of half-marathons, and enjoyed landscaping, reading, spending time with his seven grandchildren, and attending all their sporting events. Words most often used to describe Charlie are loving, kind, attentive, generous, charitable, and honorable.
He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; daughters Maryane Knapp (TP) of Seminole; Charlene Ptacek (Jack) of Largo; Laura Sarka of Madeira Beach; grandchildren Thomas Knapp, Hannah Ptacek, John Ptacek, Clayton Sherman, Brady Knapp, Dylan Sherman, Kaelyn Knapp of Seminole, Largo, and Madeira Beach; Siblings – John Sarka (Joan) and family of Largo; Joe Sarka of Hudson and family; Altha Carr (Marvin) of North Carolina; sister-in-law Kathy Church of Palm Harbor, Siblings – Linda Scott of Panama City Beach, Roger Lynn (Jeannie) and family of Spring Hill.
Services will be held at Veterans Funeral Care, 830 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33765, on Friday, March 19, 2021, at 11:30AM. He will be interred at Bay Pines National Cemetery, following a Military Honors Service, that will be limited to family only due to COVID limitations the National Cemetery Administration has in place.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=10043
Sorry for your loss. Prayers to the family.
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear that Charlie passed away. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Linda and I were very saddened to hear of Charlie’s passing. He was a good friend of mine and a fellow Marine. Our deepest sympathies to Nancy and all of the Sarka family. We were friends a long time at the Post Office.
My husband, Randall and I worked with Charlie for many years. He was a great guy. Our deepest sympathies to you and family..
So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. Carole
So sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you all!
My condolences to you during this time. Charlie was an amazing bright light at the USPS! Always so happy. Loved conversations with him!! He will be missed.
Nancy and family I am so so sorry for your loss. Charlie was always fun to work with at the Post Office. You and your family are in my Thoughts and Prayers.
Nancy and family, so very sorry for your loss. He will be missed! Thinking of you all in this hard time! We are here if you need anything! Love, Lynne, Michael and kids.
Sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing, Nancy. I am always glad that I have known both of you, as you were my push to run my first half marathon. He will be missed.
Nancy, I am so sorry for your loss neighbor. Charlie was a great guy, and I hope your memories of him get you through this tough time. Our prayers for you…Jim, Beth and Dan
Sorry for your loss. I enjoyed a lot of baseball games with Charlie in our younger years. He was a great guy.
Nancy,
I’m so sorry about Charlie. I didn’t know him super well, but I know he was a really good man and I had a great time having beers and putting in the flag pole with him. Oh and the Seminole Stampede was a good time too. He was a great guy and he will be missed.
With Love,
Jason and the whole Brownger family
Have a lot of fond memories of Charlie. He, Bill Hassel and I used to make road trips up to Atlanta to catch a few ballgames every summer for years. He was a good man. Semper Fi, Charlie.
Nancy, Earl and I send our love. We are so sorry.
Nancy and Family,
Sorry for your loss. Charlie will be your Guardian Angel looking after you. He was a pleasure to work with at the St Pete P&DC.
Many prayers coming your way
So very sorry to hear about your loss Nancy. I always remember (pre COVID) seeing you and Charlie on the trail in the park. He was always cheerful and such an active person. Please accept our sincere condolences
We are both so sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing. Many happy memories if working with Charlie & Nancy. You are both in our thoughts and prayers.
My deepest sympathies Nancy and family. Charlie was one of the good guys. I always had respect for him.
Hello. I know you are overwhelmed, sad, wore out but just wanted to say I’m thinking of you and your family at this time. Charlie will be missed🥰😇
Dee
Nancy
So very sorry for your loss. Although we never met, I remember years and years and years ago how happy you said he made you. He and the palm trees were all you wanted way back in Rochester. So glad you had them both! My prayers are with you.
Nancy, we are sooo sorry to hear about Charlie. You are in our prayers & our hearts. Charlie was a GREAT guy. Enjoyed making his acquaintance & working with him in St. Pete.
Dear Nancy, So sorry to hear to hear about Charlie, he was
Such a nice guy. Prayers for you and your family.
TP, Thank You so much for sharing Maryanne’s Dad’s obituary. I only met Charlie one time at Brady’s softball game. He was so thoughtful and kind to me. Definitely he was a wonderful man and will be missed by many. Deepest condolences to Maryanne and the family. I’m so very sorry for their loss of an outstanding Dad, husband and brother.
Really cant be,it was bigger sad… charles and I over to train station, at 38 ave no..train car box..full of cavans sacks, with catalogs,PC penny, Sears, reading digest, four to six hours every months, also played softball postal worked..so on weekend harry Scott. Kelly Ike, on saturday alway go Lums.. scott order 1 gallon of beer…that was great day… I missing him…God bless family.
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing. He was a true gentleman and a fellow Marine. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Semper Fi, Brother.
Nancy, My heart aches for you and your Family. Charlie and I worked on the same St. Pete Zones for some time. He was such a good friend and co-worker. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers for comfort for all your family at this difficult time.
Nancy and family deepest sympathies in the loss of Charlie. It has been years since we all worked together in St Pete. May God give you his peace, and know that Charlie is watching over you all.
Nancy, So sorry for your loss. My sincerest condolences to you and your family at this time.
Nancy, so sorry. Charlie was one of the nicest people I ever met in the Post Office. A great guy!
To Nancy and family, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Charlie was such a wonderful soul. I know Nancy as “the worlds greatest crossing guard” and met Charlie very randomly at Pinch a Penny. We just started talking when I learned he was Nancy’s husband! He saw the OES sticker on my car. That day I learned how much he loved and respected his family, how proud he was of every child and grandchild, and how happy he was to have just met me. Someone who happened to know and love his wife, too. He was just a good and kind person. His smile was worth a million and I know his loved ones will miss it so deeply. To everyone who knew this kind man, I am so deeply sorry for your loss.
Nancy,
So sorry for your loss! I remember the good d old days of playing uchre on the dock! Praying for you and your family!
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear about Charlie’s passing, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless
Nancy, I’m so very sorry for your heartbreaking loss. Your husband sounds like an amazing man. Prayers for strength and peace for you and your family.
Nancy,I was shocked and saddened to learn of Charlie’s passing. One of the best coworkers to have at the PO with whom I always enjoyed talking and laughing with. My condolences to you and your family.
So sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing. I will always have great memories of working with him. He was a great guy and a true gentleman. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love, Michele.
Great Man, went to JC together.
Will be MISSED.
My Regards To The Family.
Doug Lowery
Nancy, sorry for your loss,our prayers are with you .
Don and I were shocked to hear of Charlie’s passing. The best example of healthy lifestyle. So appreciate that great pictures were captured when you both attended our 50th anniversary celebration. Charlie was a sophomore when I was a Senior at DHHS. He has always been kind, considerate and a calm spirit.
Nancy I’m grateful that you would complete his life . He loved his 3 girls and all the grandchildren. Amazing , supportive granddad .
Our deepest sympathy to you Nancy.
Our Deepest sympathies to you and your family. You both were a blessing and a pleasure to work with. Jerry.
It has been my pleasure to have Charlie and family as patients for almost fifty years. One of my favorites. We have shared many stories over the years. So sorry to hear of his passing. I know that he dedicated his life to the youth-not only his children and grandchildren but through his years of supporting youth sports. I was always impressed by his running over the years and always looked for his face at the many 5K’s over the years. He was always ahead of me at the finish. He made it to the finish line one last time. Will miss you my friend.
Nancy and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Charlie at the St. Petersburg Post Office and he was always cheerful and pleasant to work with. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My Condolences to you Nancy. I will always remember Mr. Charlie and his generosity. Wonderful man, husband and father. Remembering him at St. Pete USPS P&DC.
We are so sorry for your loss, Nancy. Benny, Julian and send a lot of love, hugs and prayers to you and your family!
So sorry for your loss my mom Sharon worked with Charlie for many years at the Post Office and my husband got to know him from the retiree breakfasts as he went with mom
I just heard about Charlie and can’t believe it, always thought he was in great condition and this has come as a shock. I worked with him for almost 30 years and just a great guy, he came to my wife’s funeral and didn’t even knew he was aware of my lost. I great guy, rest in peace Charlie.
May his memory forever be your blessing .My deepest sympathy for your family’s loss Hugs and kisses
I am so sorry to hear about Uncle Charlie. My heart goes out to all of you.
Love,
Bree
Our deepest condolences for your great loss 💐
My deepest condolences to the Sarka family. Your loss is my loss, and I enjoyed working with Charli at the Post Office . He was a great man and a gentle soul.
I knew charlie from church,,he was always ready to conversate with me,,i never seen him not smiling..the seat behind me is where he and nancy sat ,and where i could turn around and talk about life,dogs,running and the post office. I will miss him ,but i will see him again..
I too met Charlie at Adoration Church. I remember the first time I met him, he was so engaging, comfortable to talk to and didn’t act like a visitor, but as an old friend. I’m sorry to say, every single time I got done talking to Charlie, I always wished I would have the opportunity to spend more time getting to know him. I’m so sorry Nancy for your loss, I know you love Charlie and he loves you.💕💕💕
We are praying for you Nancy and family. Charlie was a sweet man. So sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss. Send you all prayers, love and comfort. Charlie will be missed.
I was shocked to hear of Charlie’s passing, he was always in such a great mood at the PO. Just the nicest guy ever. I would always see you both jogging around Seminole as I was riding my bike and we would always stop to talk and catch up on life. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Nancy.