Charles "Chuck" D. Herak, age 90, of Wilmington, DE, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2024.

Chuck was born in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of the late Mary (Gaich) and Dragutin Herak.  He had humble roots, growing up in the working-class town of Blawnox, PA during the Depression, and was raised by his widowed mother and three older sisters, Emily, Zora, and Violet.  He was surrounded by love and strong values, setting a strong foundation for his life's journey.

Chuck served for two years in the US Army and graduated from Westminster College, where he met the love of his life, Barbara.  He continued his education at the University of West Virginia, followed by St. John's University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree. Chuck enjoyed a successful career as a corporate lawyer, eventually moving to Wilmington to join Continental American Insurance Company in 1970, where he worked for 25 years before retiring.  He later worked part-time as a Hearing Officer for the Delaware Department of Labor, a role that allowed him to indulge his love for TV "judge shows" as he made rulings on unemployment insurance cases.

Outside of his professional life, Chuck was an avid sports enthusiast.  He played tennis in college at Westminster, and he was a fixture in the Wilmington-area tennis and running communities as a participant, volunteer, and spectator, as well as a part-time tennis teacher.  He ran hundreds of races of various distances, including five marathons.  He proudly represented Delaware in the Senior Olympics on multiple occasions in the sports of tennis, badminton and race walking.

A lifelong learner with a sharp mind, Chuck had a particular interest in history and words, allowing him to excel at crossword puzzles and trivia games.  He had a quick wit and good sense of humor, reveling in friendly teasing and verbal sparring with friends and family.

You could always count on his unique brand of humor to create a lot of laughter.

Chuck was the consummate family man, and he is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara (McKibben) Herak; his sons, Chuck Herak and Chris Herak; his grandson, Timon Schiess; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Funeral services for Charles will be held privately.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the American Cancer Society.