Charles A. Verespe

Charles A. Verespe, 78, of Vermilion Township, passed away at his home on Thursday December 22, 2022. He was born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1944 to the late Anthony & Agnes Verespe (nee Chapla). He lived in Lorain most of his life before moving to Vermilion Township in 2002. Charlie attended Holy Trinity School and Admiral King High School. After graduating in 1962, Charlie worked at Becker Sunoco in Lorain and Empire Springs in Elyria. In 1964, he started working at the American Ship Building Company as a mechanic. In 1970, Charlie became a fireman at the Lorain Fire Department fulfilling his lifetime dream. Early in his career, he worked on the department’s rescue squad where he saved many lives and delivered many babies. He also taught many school aged children the importance of fire safety. In 1971, Charlie fought one of the worst fires in his 29-year career, the Roger Blough fire at the American Ship Building Company. Toward the middle of his career as a fireman, Charlie was promoted to lieutenant supervising the mechanics for the department. Finally, Charlie attended the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland becoming an arson investigator and overseeing the fire prevention bureau until his retirement in 1999. Charlie was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed boating, fishing, shooting and many hunting trips to southern Ohio and Canada. He was a member of the Vermilion Fish & Game where he served as president from 2011-2021 and achieved lifetime membership. He also enjoyed attending car shows and displaying some of the classic cars he owns. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 52 years Karen Verespe (nee Krasienko), children Stacey and Joey and grandsons Chad and Jax. In addition, Charlie is survived by his sister Virginia Koba, nieces, nephews and cousins with whom he shared a special friendship. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Joe, who was also a Lorain Firefighter, and his brother-in-law Jeff Koba. The family will receive friends Wednesday January 4, 2023 from 10:00 – 11:00 am at St Mary Catholic Church, 731 Exchange St, Vermilion. A mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11:00 am in the church with the Rev. Paul Schreiner, pastor, presiding. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Charles A. Verespe

June 25, 1944 - December 22, 2022