Charles Jaqua

On February 4th, 2020, Charles Ernest Jaqua passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at his winter home in Sarasota, Florida. He was 84 years old. He was the son of Harold Kenneth and Leila Bell (O'Brien) Jaqua and was born, raised and lived as a lifelong Kalamazoo resident. He attended Kalamazoo Central High School. Immediately following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army for two years and then enrolled at Western Michigan University where he obtained his Bachelor's degree. On January 29, 1960, he married Mary Ann McCarthy, the love of his life. They were married for 60 years. He deemed his greatest blessings to be his wife, who survives him, their four children and their spouses: Julie (Jay) Brown, Jolyn (Greg) Florin, David (Pattie) Jaqua and Daniel (Dawn) Jaqua. He treasured his conversations and time with his 12 grandchildren and their spouses: Tom (Kaylee) Florin, Jason (Hannah) Florin, Heidi Florin (Tim) VanBockel, Kelsey and McKenna Brown, Bethany Jaqua (Kyle) Siebold, Derek, Abigail and Madeline Jaqua and Madison, Devin and Ryann Jaqua. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Jerrilyn, and his three siblings: Julane Jaqua (Ken) George, Janice Jaqua (Duane) Gilger and Jack (Alita) Jaqua. Chuck's work career included two years in marketing with Clark Equipment, ten years with the Equitable Life Assurance Society and thirty years with Jaqua Realtors, the company he founded in 1975. He was a past member of Stockbridge Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church and most recently, the Church of the Palms in Sarasota, Florida. His faith and trust in God meant a great deal to him. He was very community minded throughout his life, serving most notably at the American Cancer Society as well as the Alzheimer's Association. If you did not know Chuck, he was outgoing, caring, enthusiastic, thoughtful and had a real zest for life. He was an early proponent of "physical fitness" way before it was trendy. He loved his work, playing and watching tennis, some late in life golfing, but mostly he loved the people he surrounded himself with: his family, his friends, his business associates. He was a thoughtful mentor, an inspiration and had a genuine concern for the welfare of others. He was quick with the one-liners and could draw on a seemingly endless number of stories, mantras and "sayings" to match any day-to-day situation. He is gone, but his legacy, his personality, his sayings and those red Jaqua Realtors signs live on! Cremation has taken place. His immediate family is gathering in Tampa, Florida in a couple of weeks to celebrate his life. A gathering in Kalamazoo will be announced in the near future. Donations in his memory can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer's Association.