Obituary of Charles S. Sedlak

~~Charles Stephen (“The Hammer”) Sedlak

Charles S. Sedlak, 78, of Florham Park, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at St. Barnabas Medical Center.

He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Mary Ann (Svirida) Sedlak, and leaves behind his daughters, Donna Scallero, of Florham Park, NJ, and Susanne Barba, of Jupiter, FL; his brother, John Sedlak, of Waretown, NJ, his sister, Rosemary Paster, of Union, NJ; his nieces ,Tracy Brown, of Mountainside, NJ, and Patti Schiffl, of Cranford, NJ; three grandchildren, Brielle Barba, PJ Barba and Giovanna Scallero; and many close friends and extended family.

Charles, fondly known as “The Hammer”, was born in Orange, NJ, the son of Stephen and Ruth (Jones) Sedlak, and was raised in the Vailsburg section of Newark. 

He served 6 years in the Navy as a member of the Seebees, the United States Naval Construction Battalion.  He proudly traveled many places with the Navy, including Australia, New Zealand and two tours in Antarctica.  He was very proud to have helped build the first nuclear power plant in Antarctica at McMurdo Sound. After serving in the military, he joined the Carpenters Union Local #1342 and met and married his wife on May 11, 1968. 

Charlie had many interests and was a very active member of his community, where he lived for 47 years.  He was a member for over 40 years of the Florham Park Volunteer Fire Department, where he achieved the rank of Captain, a member and former President of the Warren County Rod and Gun Club, member of the American Legion, an avid beekeeper, raised chickens and loved to spend time gardening.  He and his wife had the love of travel, and were very fortunate to have been able to travel to many places together, particularly cruising throughout the world. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 4, 2017 at Burroughs Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison, NJ from 2-4pm and 7-9pm.  A funeral service will be Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Holy Family Church, 1 Lloyd Avenue, Florham Park, NJ, at 10:00am, followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Florham Park Volunteer Fire Department (www.florhamparkfiredepartment.org).