CHARLES MAUREL ‘CHARLIE’ PETRI

Charles Maurel “Charlie” Petri, 79, of Arcadia, Fl., passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 1999 in Port Charlotte, Fl. after a battle with emphysema.
He was born Aug. 15, 1920 in Nashwauk, Mn. but emigrated to Canada in 1924 with his parents and settled in the Blackhawk area.
In his early years, Charles worked with his father on pulpwood and gravel trucks, owning his own truck at one point. Around 1948, Charles moved to Windsor, Ont., where he owned and operated his own “Back Alley Garage” along with a coffee shop. From there, he went to work in the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant and, after several years, moved on to become service manager at Dingwall Ford Garage in Windsor.
In the early 1960s, he moved to Mt. Clemens, Mich. and then to Brighton, Mich., where he found work as a heavy equipment mechanic for Darren and Armstrong Construction, becoming a member of the Operating Engineers Local 324.
After 18 years, he moved on to work for John DeBona Construction, where he remained until his retirement in 1980.
Since retiring, he has spent the winters at Lake Okachokee, Fl. and the last five years with his friends, Gary and Barb in Arcadia. The summers were spent visiting here in the Blackhawk area with relatives as well as in Brighton, Mich. with close friends and associates.
Charles was a Shriner in the Masonic Lodge, doing a lot of charity and service work for them. He also was a member of the Lions Club in Brighton, where he helped with fundraising and social events the club participated in.
He was predeceased by his parents, Victor and Clara Petri; brothers, Francis Roen and Vic (Sonny) Petri; sister, Helen; and wives, Eva Tolton and Marie Duford.
Charles is survived by his son, Todd; and sisters, Dorthe Marr, Kay Snider, Virginia Cameron, and Elizabeth (George) Hawryluk. Also surviving are special friends, Chris Price and Horace Birkenstock of Brighton, Mich., and Gary and Barb of Arcadia, Fl.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999 at 2 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, Ont., Pastor Dan Pearson officiated, with interment in Chapple Cemetery in Barwick, Ont.
A Manitou Masonic Lodge #631 memorial service was held prior to the funeral service at Green Funeral Home.
Honourary pallbearers were his brothers from the Manitou Masonic Lodge #631.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Kenora-Rainy River Lung Association, Box 366, Kenora, Ont., P9N 3X4.