Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared

Chuck Molitor

November 28, 1919 - March 5, 2016
Kalamazoo, MI

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Visitation

Friday, March 11, 2016
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, March 12, 2016
10:00 AM EST
Trinity Lutheran Church
504 South Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 344-6181

A luncheon will follow the cemetery services at Fieldstone Grill (3870 W. Centre Ave).

Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Trinity Lutheran Church
504 South Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 344-6181
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

VanderSalm's Flower Shop
1120 S. Burdick Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(269) 743-5903

Life Story / Obituary


Print

Born November 28, 1919 in Chicago, IL, the son of Charles F. and Eva (Weber) Molitor. Chuck graduated from Tilden Technical High School in Chicago. After graduation he served his apprenticeship and became a certified tool and die mold maker.

He was a WWII veteran, having served in the Navy as a machinist mate first class on the U.S.S. Pine Island AV-12 in the Pacific theater. The Pine Island and its crew were awarded the Navy Battle Star for air sea rescue operations at Okinawa.

Chuck was a pioneer in the mold making and plastic molding industries in Kalamazoo. He was the founder and co-owner of Mol-Bee, Inc., Pan-O-Grav, Inc., Plastic Engineering Inc., and Moark-Mold, Inc. of Poplar Bluff, MO. He was a founding member of the Kalamazoo chapter of the Society of Plastic Engineers. Among his proudest achievements of many was the establishment of the first U.S. Department of Labor certified Tool and Die Mold Making Apprenticeship program in the State of Michigan. Always a strong advocate of vocational and technical education, he served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the construction of the new Kalamazoo Central High School in the 1960s.

Prior to his own business ventures he was Master Mechanic and Plant Manager of Allen Electric Company in Kalamazoo, Manufacturing Department Manager of Mechanical Products, Inc. in Jackson, MI., Chief Industrial Engineer of Electro-Voice Products in Buchanan, MI., and Kal-Equip Company of Otsego, MI. Chuck served on the Board of Directors of Clausing Corporation from 1978 until 1981.

Chuck loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. In retirement he split much of his time between his residences in Minnesota and Florida, pursuing his favorite pastimes.

Chuck was a long time, active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving numerous terms as a member of the church council. He was a member of Masonic Boulevard Lodge No. 882 AF&AM in Chicago, VFW Post 4054 in Marcellus, MI., the Exchange Club of Kalamazoo, Lions International, and the Tilden Tech Alumni Association, which inducted him into its Hall of Fame in recognition of his professional achievements and support of technical and vocational education.

In June, 1942 Charles was married to Virginia Engstrom at Atonement Lutheran Church in Chicago. Virginia preceded him in death in April, 2011. He is survived by 3 sons: Charles J. II, Ronald A. (Joan) and Gerard J. (Kathy); as well as 9 grandchildren: Matt (Michelle) Molitor, Derek (Joanna Parzakonis) Molitor, Christine (Chad) Tarpley, Erin (Mark) Sutherland, Shawn (Mandy) Molitor, Stephanie (Mike) Lampros, Melanie Molitor, Laura (Shawn) Oldberg, Charles J. Molitor III; and 15 great grandchildren.

Family and friends will visit on Friday, March 11, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (269-375-2900). Services will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 10 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 504 S. Westnedge Ave., with Rev. Ken Johnson and Rev. Jake Lehman officiating. Entombment will be at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park with Military Honors. A luncheon will follow at Fieldstone Grill (3970 W. Centre Ave). Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church. Please visit Chuck’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook before coming to the funeral home.