//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpgObituary
Kevin Matthew Charkowski, 60, of Benton Harbor, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Hanson Hospice in Stevensville, MI.
The family will receive guests from 11am until time of celebration of life service at 12pm, Friday, February 23, 2024 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Interment will be held privately. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org. Those wishing to leave an online condolence for the family may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Kevin was born November 19, 1963 in Kalamazoo, MI to Larry and Sunny (Wilkins) Charkowski. He graduated from Plainwell High School before attending ITT Tech, where he obtained his Bachelor's degree. Kevin worked at several companies as a lab tech; Steelcase for many years, before gaining employment at Whirlpool, where he worked for the past 15 years as a lab technician. Kevin worked hard because he genuinely loved his job, always showing up despite being in significant pain from his illness. He never let his pain get the best of him. Kevin worked hard, and therefore, played hard as well. Kevin loved hunting, fishing, and anything that would get him outdoors in nature. He enjoyed hunting for duck and deer, and ice fishing in the winter. He spent many days out in his boats, doing what he loved. He was a self-taught musician, often writing little songs he learned to play on his guitars. But despite his hobbies, career, and love of music, nothing compared to the love he shared with his wife, Tammy, whom he married on May 27, 2010 in Las Vegas after 20 years of courtship.
Kevin will be missed dearly by his wife of 14 years, Tammy (Easlick) Charkowski; his step-children, Shannon LaFray, Christoffer (Erin) James, Melissa James, and Rebecca James; his sisters, Susan Charkowski, and Robin VanHall; his nieces, Lauren and Abby VanHall; his mother-in-law, Nancy (the late Richard) Easlick; and his beloved pets, labs - Ozzy and Layla; and Tigger, his cat. He is preceded in death by his parents.