Charles Pokorny III

Charles Pokorny III, age 78, of Union Mills, North Carolina, passed away Tuesday, August 01, 2017 at the SECU Hospice House in Forest City with his loving family by his side. Born in Harper, Kansas on February 14, 1939, he was the son of the late Dr. Charles Pokorny II, and Lois Miller Pokorny.

A graduate from both Kansas State and Northwestern University, Charles, was retired from General Motors after 26 years of service as a quality control engineer. Charles led a full life with many hobbies and passions. In the early years, he participated in rodeos from a bronco rider, to a bull rider, to a rodeo clown. He worked a couple of summers at Beech Air Craft and got his pilot’s license.

He loved dogs and spent some years showing cocker spaniels. Charles was an avid outdoorsman where he loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed doing videography for Wilderness Journal and being a writer for Woods & Water Outdoor Journal. Charles owned a fishing charter boat on Lake Huron. He enjoyed golfing with friends and family.

In recent years, he enjoyed his rocks and gems. Charles always found a close-knit community wherever he was: Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina or Arizona. He will be forever missed by those he touched.

In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. William Pokorny.

Charles is survived by his beloved dog, Katrinka, two daughters, Misha Bertorello (John) and Miranda McKee (John); and three grandchildren, Julia Bertorello, Tyler McKee and Maxwell McKee; one niece, Tarsy Dondlinger; two nephews, Trent Pokorny and Brian Pokorny; and sister-in-law, Susan Pokorny Egolf.

A private memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 05, 2017 at Thermal City Gold Mine.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Pokorny’s memory are asked to consider, American Cancer Society, 20 Executive Park, Building 1, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 (www.cancer.org) and/or American Lung Association, 401 Hawthorne Lane, Suite 110 #298, Charlotte, North Carolina (www.lung.org).